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diff --git a/19100.txt b/19100.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0b13448 --- /dev/null +++ b/19100.txt @@ -0,0 +1,13643 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Covenants And The Covenanters, by Various + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Covenants And The Covenanters + Covenants, Sermons, and Documents of the Covenanted Reformation + +Author: Various + +Editor: James Kerr + +Release Date: August 22, 2006 [EBook #19100] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE COVENANTS AND THE COVENANTERS *** + + + + +Produced by Jordan Dohms and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + +[Transcriber's Note: All items in the Errata have been corrected in the +text, however the Errata has still been included for completeness.] + + +[Illustration: THE GRASSMARKET, EDINBURGH.] + +THE COVENANTS +AND +THE COVENANTERS + + +COVENANTS, SERMONS, AND DOCUMENTS +OF +THE COVENANTED REFORMATION. +_WITH ILLUSTRATIONS._ + + +INTRODUCTION ON THE NATIONAL COVENANTS +BY +REV. JAMES KERR, D.D., GLASGOW + + +EDINBURGH: +R.W. HUNTER, GEORGE IV. BRIDGE. + + + + +THE COVENANTS AND THE COVENANTERS. + +[Illustration] + + + + +PREFATORY NOTE. + + +The Covenants, Sermons, and Papers in this volume carry the readers back +to some of the brightest periods of Scottish history. They mark +important events in that great struggle by which these three kingdoms +were emancipated from the despotisms of Pope, Prince, and Prelate, and +an inheritance of liberty secured for these Islands of the Sea. The +whole achievements of the heroes of the battlefields are comprehended +under that phrase of Reformers and Martyrs, "The Covenanted Work of +Reformation." The attainments of those stirring times were bound +together by the Covenants, as by rings of gold. + +The Sermons here were the product of the ripe thought of the main +actors in the various scenes--men of piety, learning, and renown. +Hence, the nature, objects, and benefits of personal and national +Covenanting are exhibited in a manner fitted to attract to that +ordinance the minds and hearts of men. The readers can well believe +the statement of Livingstone, who was present at several ceremonies of +covenant-renovation: "I never saw such motions from the Spirit of God. I +have seen more than a thousand persons all at once lifting up their +hands, and the tears falling down from their eyes." In the presence of +the defences of the Covenants as deeds, by these preachers, the baseless +aspersions of novelists and theologues fade out into oblivion. + +True Christians must, as they ponder these productions, be convinced +that the Covenanters were men of intense faith and seraphic fervour, and +their own hearts will burn as they catch the heavenly flame. Members of +the Church of Christ will be stirred to nobler efforts for the Kingdom +of their Lord as they meditate on the heroism of those who were the +"chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof;" and they will behold with +wonder that "to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle that she +might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished +for a time and times and half a time, from the face of the serpent." And +Statesmen will discover how Princes, Parliaments, and Peoples united in +the hearty surrender of themselves to the Prince of the kings and +kingdoms of the earth; and will be aroused to promote that policy of +Christian Statesmanship which, illustrating the purpose and will of God, +the Father, shall liberate Parliaments and nations from the bonds of +false religions, and assert for them those liberties and honours which +spring from the enthronement of the Son of Man, as King of kings and +Lord of lords. + +This volume of documents of olden times is sent out on a mission of +Revival of Religion, personal and national, in the present times. It +would do a noble work if it helped to humble classes and masses, and led +them to return as one man to that God in covenant from Whom all have +gone so far away. A national movement, in penitence and faith, for the +repeal of the Acts Rescissory and the recognition of the National +Covenants would be as life from the dead throughout the British Empire. +The people and rulers of these dominions shall yet behold the brilliancy +of the Redeemer's crowns; and shall, by universal consent, exalt Him who +rules in imperial majesty over the entire universe of God. For, "The +seventh angel sounded, and there were great voices in heaven, saying, +The kingdoms of this world are become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of +His Christ." + +GLASGOW, _December, 1895_. + + + + +_ERRATA._ + +Page 29, line 8, instead of "1745," _read_ 1712. + +Page 29, line 10, instead of "Crawfordjohn," _read_ Auchensaugh, near +Douglas. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + PAGE +PREFATORY NOTE, 5 + +THE NATIONAL COVENANTS--_Introduction_, 11 + + +THE NATIONAL COVENANT-- + + THE NATIONAL COVENANT, OR CONFESSION OF FAITH, 39 + + EXHORTATION TO LORDS OF COUNCIL, 52 + + SERMON AT ST. ANDREWS. By Alexander Henderson, 54 + + EXHORTATION AT INVERNESS. By Andrew Cant, 77 + + SERMON AT GLASGOW. By Andrew Cant, 83 + + SERMON AT EDINBURGH. By Andrew Cant, 109 + + +THE SOLEMN LEAGUE AND COVENANT-- + + THE SOLEMN LEAGUE AND COVENANT, 131 + + ACT OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY, 136 + + EXHORTATION AT WESTMINSTER. By Philip Nye, 138 + + ADDRESS AT WESTMINSTER. By Alexander Henderson, 151 + + SERMON AT WESTMINSTER. By Thomas Coleman, 159 + + SERMON AT WESTMINSTER. By Joseph Caryl, 190 + + SERMON AT LONDON. By Thomas Case, 228 + + SERMON AT LONDON. By Thomas Case, 265 + + ORDINANCE OF THE LORDS AND COMMONS, 303 + + EXHORTATION BY THE WESTMINSTER ASSEMBLY, 307 + + SERMON AT LONDON. By Edmund Calamy, 312 + + +THE NATIONAL COVENANTS-- + + CORONATION SERMON AT SCONE. By Robert Douglas, 349 + + CHARLES II, TAKING THE COVENANTS, 386 + + THE ACTS RESCISSORY, 398 + + THE TORWOOD EXCOMMUNICATION, 408 + + ACT AGAINST CONVENTICLES, 412 + + THE SANQUHAR DECLARATION, 416 + + PROTESTATION AGAINST THE UNION, 419 + + SECESSION FROM THE REVOLUTION CHURCH, 434 + + + + +_Illustrations._ + +THE GRASSMARKET, EDINBURGH, _Frontispiece_ + +GREYFRIARS CHURCH, EDINBURGH, 38 + +ST. MARGARETS AND THE ABBEY, WESTMINSTER, 130 + + + + +THE NATIONAL COVENANTS + + +Every person who enters rightly into covenant with God is on the pathway +to gladness and honour. He comes into sympathy with Him who from +eternity made a covenant with His chosen. He gives joy to Him who loves +to see His people even touch the hem of His garments, or eagerly grasp +His Omnipotent hand. The Spirit of God on the heart of the believer +draws him into the firmest attachment to the Beloved. Under His gracious +influence, the bonds of prejudice against covenanting are as green withs +and the covenanter stands forth in liberty and in power. So also, when +the people of a kingdom together come into covenant with the Lord. In +the character of Israel as a covenanted people, there shines out a +special splendour. One of the most brilliant events in Judah's chequered +history is that in which, in the days of the good king Asa, "they +gathered themselves together to Jerusalem and entered into a covenant to +seek the Lord God of their fathers with all their heart and with all +their soul; and all Judah rejoiced at the oath." More than any other +nation of modern times, the people of the British Isles resemble in +their covenant actings the people of Israel; and Scotland is the likest +to Judah. Certainly, Scotland's covenants with God were coronets on +Scotland's brow. + +At the beginning of the sixteenth century, Scotland was a moral waste. +The Papacy, which had attained the zenith of its power on the +Continent, reigned in its supremacy throughout the land. In Europe, +indeed, there were some oases in the desolation, but here there were +"stretched out upon the kingdom the line of confusion and the stones of +emptiness." The chaos was as broad and deep as that of the Papal States +before the time of Victor Emanuel. By the presence of the Papacy, mind, +conscience, heart, were blasted; while ignorance, superstition, +iniquity, increased and prevailed. But the Lord that saw the affliction +of Israel in the land of the Pharaohs, was "the same yesterday"; and His +time of visitation was one of love. The first signs of the coming +deliverance were the martyr fires kindled to consume those who were +beginning to cry for liberty. The heroic efforts and successes of the +Reformers on the Continent, in the presence of Papal bulls and +inquisitions, were a trumpet call to independence to the people of this +priest-cursed land; and many responded right nobly, ready to stand amid +the faggots at the stake rather than bear the iron heel that bruised +them. + +Those valiant men were led to bind themselves together in "bands," or +covenants, and together to God, in prosecution of their aims. At Dun, in +1556, they entered into a "Band" in which they vowed to "refuse all +society with idolatry." At Edinburgh, in 1557, they entered into "ane +Godlie Band," vowing that "we, by His grace, shall, with all diligence, +continually apply our whole power, substance, and our very lives to +maintain, set forward and establish the most blessed Word of God." At +Perth, in 1559, they entered into covenant "to put away all things that +dishonour His name, that God may be truly and purely worshipped." At +Edinburgh, in 1560, they entered into covenant "to procure, by all means +possible, that the truth of God's Word may have free passage within this +realm." And these covenants were soon followed by the Confession of +Faith prepared by Knox and five other Reformers, and acknowledged by the +three Estates as "wholesome and sound doctrine grounded upon the +infallible truth of God;" by an Act abolishing the "jurisdiction of the +bishop of Rome within this realme," and forbidding "title or right by +the said bishop of Rome or his sect to anything within this realme," and +by the first General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. Seven years +thereafter, 1569, the Parliament recognised, by specific Act, the +reformed Church of Scotland as "the only true and holy kirk of Jesus +Christ within this realm." The young Church of Scotland was based on the +Word of God, anti-papal, free, reformed, and covenanting, and in that +character acknowledged by the State. "At this time," writes D'Aubigne, +"the reformed church was recognised and established by the State--a +triumph similar to that of Christianity when under Constantine the +religion of the Crucified One ascended the throne of the Caesars." In +spite of the vacillating policy of the King and Parliament, and their +repeated attempts to impose the order of bishops on the Church, the +reformation proceeded steadily, and a great advance was reached by the +National Covenant of 1580. + +This National Covenant, or Second Confession of Faith, was prepared by +John Craig, minister of Holyrood House. Its original title was "Ane +Short and Generall Confession of the True Christiane Faith and +Religione, according to God's verde and Actis of our Perlamentis, +subscryved by the Kingis Majestie and his Household, with sindrie +otheris, to the glorie of God and good example of all men, att +Edinburghe, the 28 day of Januare, 1580, and 14 yeare of his Majestie's +reigne." The immediate occasion of this memorable transaction was the +discovery of a secret dispensation from the Pope consenting to the +profession of the reformed religion by Roman Catholics, but instructing +them to use all their influence in promotion of the "ancient faith." +Though the King was still in sympathy to some degree with the policy of +Rome against the "new faith," he could not dare to resist the +indignation of the people against Romish intrigues, and their demand for +a national bond as a means of defence. By the National Covenant, the +Covenanters declared their belief "in the true Christian faith and +religion, revealed by the blessed evangel, and received by the Kirk of +Scotland, as God's eternal truth and only ground of our Salvation;" +renounced "all kinds of Papistry," its authority, dogmas, rites and +decrees, and pledged themselves to maintain "the King's majesty, in the +defence of Christ, against all enemies within this realm or without." It +was signed by the King and the Privy Council and throughout the kingdom, +and was subscribed again in 1590 and 1596. "The Kirk of Scotland," wrote +Calderwood, "was now come to her perfection and the greatest puritie +that ever she attained unto, both in doctrine and discipline, so that +her beautie was admirable to forraine kirks. The assemblies of the +sancts were never so glorious." This period was the meridian of the +first Reformation. + +But the time of Scotland's rest and joy was short indeed. Ere the +sixteenth century opened, the ecclesiastical edifice, raised by Knox, +the Melvilles and other reformers, was almost in ruins. The monarch had +been taught in his youth the doctrine of the divine right of kings, and +he was now determined to assert it. Both church and state must be laid +in the dust before his absolute will. Both had been delivered from a +popedom on the banks of the Tiber, now they will be confronted by a +popedom on the banks of the Thames; and the despotism of the Pope shall +be even exceeded by the despotism of the Prince. Scotland is now to be +the scene of a struggle with issues more momentous than any ever waged +on any field of battle. Shall civil and religious liberty be saved from +captivity by tyrants on the throne? Shall free assemblies and free +parliaments be extinguished in the land that has, by its people and its +Parliament, abolished the authority of Rome and taken its National +Covenant with God? For nearly a hundred years this conflict was destined +to continue till, at the Revolution Settlement, the divine right of +kings was banished the realm. + +Kingcraft forthwith commenced its work of demolition and proceeded to +deliver its blows in rapid succession. Summoning to its aid Laud and +other sycophantic counsellors, it subtly resolved to lay its hand on the +very conscience of the church. Mitres were offered some of her more +prominent ministers, for Charles I. knew that Presbyterianism is the +friend of civil freedom, and that Prelacy in the Church will more +readily consent to despotism in the State. The "Black Acts" were passed +confirming the "king's royal power over all states and subjects within +this realm," discharging all assemblies held "without our Sovereign +Lord's special licence and commandment," and requiring ministers to +acknowledge the ecclesiastical superiority of bishops. The assembly was +induced to adopt a proposal for the appointment of a number of +commissioners to sit and vote in Parliament, become members of the Privy +Council, and Lords of Session; and such honours would not readily be +declined. Then came the Court of High Commission, instituted for the +purpose of compelling the "faithful" ministers to acknowledge the +bishops appointed by the king--a court called into existence by royal +proclamation, "a sort of English Inquisition," writes Dr. M'Crie, +"composed of prelates, noblemen, knights, and ministers, and possessing +the combined power of a civil and ecclesiastical tribunal." After this +came the Act giving full legal status to the "Anti-Christian hierarchy" +of Episcopacy in Scotland; the formal consecration of the first Scottish +prelates; the five articles of Perth; the Canons and Constitutions +Ecclesiastical--a complete code of laws for the Church issued without +any consultation with the representatives of the Church; an Act charging +all His Majesty's subjects to conform to the order of worship +prescribed by him, and the Semi-Popish Book of Common Prayer and +Administration of the Sacraments which was imposed upon all parishes and +ministers. By these and other measures, the sovereign impiously assumed +that spiritual power which belonged to Christ alone, as King and Head of +the Church. Here, in its worst form, was "the absolutism that had so +long threatened the extinction of their liberties; here was the heel of +despotism openly planted on the neck of their Church, and the crown +openly torn from the brow of Christ, her only King." + +During all these years, the Reformers were resisting with courage the +assaults of the enemy. At times there were secessions from their ranks +when, under the bribes and threats of prince and prelate, some +ingloriously succumbed. But, as Renwick said later in the struggle, "the +loss of the men was not the loss of the cause." The champions of the +Reformation, led by Andrew Melville, feared not to arraign that monarch +who once told his bishops that "now he had put the sword into their +hands they should not let it rust." They tabled petitions, published +protests, obtained interviews, but all proved powerless to arrest the +career of those who were bent on the annihilation of the Church, and the +establishment on its ruins of the royal Supremacy. In one of their +protests, they call upon the Estates to "advance the building of the +house of God, remembering always that there is no absolute and undoubted +authority in the world excepting the sovereign authority of Christ the +King, to whom it belongeth as properly to rule the Kirk according to the +good pleasure of His own will, as it belongeth to Him to save the Kirk +by the merit of His own sufferings." The attempt to impose Laud's +liturgy gave opportunity for an outburst of the slumbering flame of +discontent. Janet Geddes flung a stool at the head of the officiating +Dean, and the tumult that ensued extended far and wide. A tablet, +recently erected to her memory in St. Giles, states that "she struck the +first blow in the great struggle for freedom of conscience." The +proclamation by the Council of the State, condemning all meetings +against the Episcopal Canons and Service Book, brought the Reformers +accessions from all parts of the kingdom. Could an oppressed people bear +the tyranny longer? But, will they take up arms and scatter carnage and +blood throughout the land? No, their weapons will not be carnal, but +mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. They will go to +the Covenant God of the kingdom, and they will stand before Him, saying, +"Thine are we, David, and on thy side, thou son of Jesse." Scotland will +renew her covenant with God. + +The National Covenant of 1580 was produced. An addition was made, in two +parts. The part summarizing the Acts of Parliament, condemning the +papacy and ratifying the confessions of the Church, was drafted by +Warriston; that with special religious articles for the time was by +Henderson. The spot chosen for the solemnities of the first subscription +was the Churchyard of Greyfriars, Edinburgh. "The selection," writes the +historiographer-royal for Scotland, "showed a sound taste for the +picturesque. The graveyard in which their ancestors have been laid from +time immemorial stirs the hearts of men. The old Gothic Church of the +Friary was then existing; and landscape art in Edinburgh has by repeated +efforts established the opinion that from that spot we have the grandest +view of the precipices of the Castle and the national fortress crowning +them. It seemed a homage to that elevating influence of grand external +conditions which the actors in the scene were so vehemently +repudiating." In that memorable spot the Reformers gathered "the +legitimate charters" of their nation into one document and presented +them before heaven. Johnston unrolled the parchment in which these +Scottish charters were inscribed, and read them in a clear, calm voice. +"When he had finished, all was still as the grave. But the silence was +soon broken. An aged man of noble air was seen advancing. He came +forward slowly, and deep emotion was visible in his venerable features. +He took up the pen with a trembling hand and signed the document. A +general movement now took place. All the Presbyterians in the Church +pressed forward to the Covenant and subscribed their names. But this was +not enough; a whole nation was waiting. The immense parchment was +carried into the churchyard and spread out on a large tombstone to +receive on this expressive table the signature of the Church. Scotland +had never beheld a day like that." "This," says Henderson, "was the day +of the Lord's power, in which multitudes offered themselves most +willingly, like dewdrops of the morning. This was, indeed, the great day +of Israel, wherein the arm of the Lord was revealed--the day of the +Redeemer's strength, on which the princes of the people assembled to +swear their allegiance to the King of kings." Charles I. understood well +the force of that mighty movement when, on hearing of it, he said, "I +have no more power in Scotland than a Doge of Venice." The renewal of +that covenant, 28th February, 1638, was a thunderbolt against despotism +in Scotland, and the world over. "The chariots of God are twenty +thousand." + +The covenant was transcribed into hundreds of copies, carried throughout +the country from north to south and east to west, and subscribed +everywhere. The spirit that thrilled the thousands filling and +overflowing Greyfriars Church and churchyard, spread with rapidity over +the whole land. It combined the "whole nation into one mighty phalanx of +incalculable energy." The last sparks of the King's fury burst out in +secret instructions to his followers to use all power against the +"refractory and seditious," and in a threat to send his army and fleet +to Scotland, but these soon died away. The "refractory and seditious" +king eventually surrendered to the Covenanters, abolished courts, +canons, liturgies, and articles, and consented to the calling of a +General Assembly. This was the first free General Assembly of the Church +of Scotland for the last forty two years. It was held in Glasgow, on +21st November, 1638; and its work in the overthrow of Prelacy and the +royal supremacy and in the re-assertion of the spiritual independence of +the Church, was one of the most signal successes in the still +progressing conflict of the second Reformation. + +Meanwhile, Charles II. was endeavouring to secure the recognition of his +absolute monarchy in England. There also he rigorously demanded +submission to despotic claims. By abolishing Parliaments, annulling +charters, appointing the star chamber, he introduced a reign of terror. +In the room of those legislative bulwarks of liberty, which the nation +had constructed through the skill and experience of generations, a "grim +tyranny," writes Dr. Wylie, "reared its gaunt form, with the terrible +accompaniments of star chamber, pillory, and branding irons. It reminded +one of sunset in the tropics. There the luminary of the day goes down at +a plunge into the dark. So had the day of liberty in England gone down +at a stride into the night of tyranny." The oppressed people turned to +the Covenanters of Scotland for sympathy and counsel. The negotiations +resulted in the preparation of an international league in defence of +religion and liberty. Against the banner of the King they raised the +banner of the Covenant. Alexander Henderson drafted the new Bond. The +document breathed the spirit of the National Covenant of Greyfriars, +condemned the Papal and Prelatic system, pled for a constitutional +monarchy, and outlined a comprehensive programme for future efforts in +extending the principles of the Reformation. On September 25, 1643, it +was subscribed in St. Margarets Church, Westminster. The members of +Parliament in England and the Westminster Assembly of Divines stood with +uplifted hands, and, as article after article was read, they took this +Oath to God. The Commissioners from Scotland to the Westminster Assembly +united with the people of England in the solemnity of the day. Thus the +representatives of the two nations stood before the Lord. This was the +Solemn League and Covenant, "the noblest in its essential features," +writes Hetherington, "of all that are recorded among the international +transactions of the world." The Parliament and Westminster Assembly +issued instructions for its subscription throughout the kingdom. The +classes and the masses in England, Scotland, and Ireland received it +with gladness. In the face of a despotism unexampled in the history of +these lands, high and low, rich and poor, bowed themselves as one before +the throne of God. "For at that time day by day there came to David to +help him, until it was a great host like the host of God." Through this +League and Covenant, the people of the British Isles were protected by +Omnipotence, and were as invincible against the despotic forces that +assailed them as were the white cliffs of their native shores against +the huge galleons of the invincible Armada. + + "To Thine own people, with Thine arm, + Thou didst redemption bring; + To Jacob's sons and to the tribes + Of Joseph that do spring." + +These Covenants were prepared and subscribed in a spirit of deep piety. +But for the sterling spirituality of the Reformers there would never +have been a Covenanted Reformation. The work of Covenanting is itself a +lofty spiritual exercise, and requires a people possessing much of the +Spirit of the living God. Every public act for the sake of Christ should +be the outcome of an impassioned devotion. The reading of even the scant +records of those times of Covenanting, telling of the prayers, and +tears, and love, and courage of those who gave themselves to God, is +fitted to inspire the coldest heart with noblest emotions. Their inward +piety made them men of power, and enabled them to bear down every +barrier to the kingdom of their Lord erected by the craft of prince and +priest. It is when Israel would call her Lord, Ishi, my Husband, that +"the names of Baalim would be taken out of her mouth and be remembered +no more." It was when the Christians of the Mearns had communion at "the +table of the Lord Jesus," ministered by Knox, that they "banded +themselves to the uttermost of their power to maintain the true +preaching of the Evangel of Christ." The historian, Burton, describes +the movement that resulted in the subscription of the National Covenant +as the fruit of "a great religious revival," and the Reformation as "the +great revival." And Kirkton says, "I verily believe there were more +souls converted to Christ in that short time than in any other season +since the Reformation." Their intense piety prepared the Covenanters for +the persecutions to follow and for crowns of martyrdom. In and around +their whole Covenanting procedure, there was the atmosphere of a +paradise of communion with God. + +These Covenants exhibited the great ecclesiastical breadth of the +Covenanters. The enthronement of the Word of God over the Church was one +of the commanding objects of the Reformers. If only the Church would +hear and honour Christ, her King, speaking in that Word, then would she +be clothed with the sun, and have on her head a crown of twelve stars. +The Reformers resolutely set themselves to apply the Word to the Church, +in all her departments; she must be such an institution as her Lord had +instructed. The will of priest, and prince, and presbyter, and people, +must be set aside in the presence of the will of her sole Sovereign. The +works of demolition and reconstruction must go on together. Built +according to the design of her Lord, her bulwarks, and towers, and +palaces shall command the admiration of the world. The pattern was not +taken from Rome, nor "even from Geneva, but from the blessed Word of +God." No quarter shall be given to hierarchy of Pope or prelate in the +government of the Church, to the "commandments of men" in the doctrine +of the Church, or to unscriptural rites in the worship of the Church. So +great was their success that the Reformers could say that they "had +borrowed nothing from the border of Rome," and had "nothing that ever +flowed from the man of sin." Often the battle raged most fiercely round +the standard of the independence of the Church, but ever the Covenanters +emerged from the struggle victorious. Valorously did they maintain that +Christ ought to "bear the glory of ruling His own kingdom, the Church," +and fearlessly they defied the monarchs in their invasions of Messiah's +rights. Besides, they were not satisfied with the attainment of a united +Church in their own kingdom alone. They were filled with the spirit of +the Saviour's prayer, "That they all may be one." In the present times, +those who publicly contend for the reunion of a "few scattered +fragments" of the Reformed Church are belauded as men of large hearts +and liberal aims. The Covenanters embodied in their Solemn League and +Covenant an engagement to "bring the Churches of God in the three +kingdoms to the nearest conjunction and uniformity;" and they also +subsequently included the Churches on the Continent in their efforts for +ecclesiastical union. For the purposes of these ecclesiastical unions, +the Westminster Assembly sat for five years in Westminster, after +signing the Solemn League, and framed a basis for union in the standards +they produced--which still testify that the members of that Assembly +were in advance of their times. Yes, the Covenanters were not narrow, +sectarian, bigoted; but large, liberal, Catholic. + +These Covenants were deeds of lofty imperial significance. The +reformation of the Church, however complete, would have been a limited +Reformation. There are two powers ordained of God and both must be +reformed. The comprehensive aims of the Covenanters embraced both State +and Church. Their deeds were civil as well as ecclesiastical. A Church +thoroughly reformed and Christian in a State unreformed and +anti-Christian, would never have satisfied the Reformers. The State also +must be no longer a vassal of the Pope, it must be a servant of the +blessed and only Potentate. God in His word here also as in the Church +must be joyfully granted the exclusive supremacy. The Covenanters vowed +to defend the King in the defence and preservation of the reformed +religion. They secured the recognition of the Church by Parliament. The +members of Parliament themselves became Covenanters. In short, +Christianity pervaded and adorned the constitution and administration of +civil government in the United Kingdom. The Covenanters were convinced +that no power, except that provided by the Word of God, could possibly +resist the arbitrary claims of the monarchs, secure the safety of the +State, and promote civil liberty in the land. Religion in the realm of +citizenship is the very crown of any realm. In the face of the +despotisms of Pope and Monarch, it would not have been surprising had +the Covenanters invented and endeavoured to apply to the State the +modern theory of religious equality, which denies the right of the State +to even acknowledge the Prince of the kings of the earth. If ever they +dreamt of such a theory, their thought of the supremacy of Jesus would +make it vanish as a dream. Much less would they ever admit the +possibility of deliverance by the theory of a concurrent recognition of +all religions, as this would lower a nation to the position of +heathenism with its "gods many," and would soon involve the strongest +empire in disaster. Papalism in the State in the ascendancy, absolute +Monarchism in the State, Secularism in the State, Polytheism in the +State--these are four despotisms, and must be flung with detestation out +of all Christian lands. The State that is not on the side of Christ, and +Christ alone, is in antagonism to all the moral forces of the universe. +Its throne is against the throne of the Highest. The Scottish +Covenanters placed the crown of the State on the Head of its rightful +Monarch, and so lifted their kingdom to imperial grandeur. + +There are some spots of this world that have secured undying memorials, +as they have been stages for the settlement of questions of momentous +importance in the destinies of nations. There is Marathon in Greece, +Waterloo in France, Sadowa in Austria, and Trafalgar on the sea, but +probably the scenes associated with these pale in glory in the presence +of Greyfriars and Westminster, where nations won unparalleled victories +in the surrender of themselves to their Covenant God. These two spots +were the earthly centres of spiritual movements of mighty magnitude, and +possess in the eyes of the God of Heaven and of the principalities about +His Throne a splendour not eclipsed by any that ever shone on a +battlefield. When the day of millennial glory comes, the people of the +new Era will not look to the Sadowas and the Sedans, but to such spots +as these where the greatest heroes of the pre-millennial times reflected +millennial light and anticipated millennial triumphs. For there, by an +army without sword or spear, the absolutism of Monarchies and the +tyranny of Hierarchies were scattered like chaff before the wind. As the +Covenanters entered into and rejoiced in their vows to God, the +Imperialism of King Jesus conquered the Imperialism which prince and +priest had been enforcing with rigour; and this Imperialism shall be in +the ascendancy yet the world over when the empires of earth shall crown +the Christ of God as King of the Church and King of nations. + +But the Covenanters have scarce time to estimate and enjoy the benefits +of their conquests before a tempest burst forth suddenly and threatened +the destruction of all the attainments of the past. In a moment of +national infatuation the Stuart dynasty was restored to the throne, and +Charles II. instantly proceeded to set up once more the Dagon of the +Royal Supremacy and enforce its recognition by all his power. On two +occasions he had subscribed the Solemn League, and he had issued +instructions in its favour, professing warm admiration of both Covenants +and of the Reformation. But now the perjured monarch employed all his +craft and power to overthrow the whole Covenanted Reformation in Church +and State. Parliament, the slave of his behests, passed the Act of +Supremacy, giving legislative sanction to all the rights he claimed. The +Acts Rescissory followed, declaring the Covenants unlawful and seditious +deeds, and repealing all Parliamentary laws in their favour. Then came +the abolition of Presbyterianism, Indulgences, the restoration of +Prelacy, the appointment of High Commission Courts, the ejection of all +ministers who would not obey the royal mandates, and the erection of +scaffolds. The monarch seemed determined to extinguish every spark of +liberty in the kingdom. The reign of peace was supplanted by a reign of +terror. The Covenants were broken, burnt, buried, by public orders. The +Covenanters met to worship God in the moorlands and dells, setting a +watch for the dragoons of Claverhouse. Thousands upon thousands of the +noblest patriots were imprisoned, tortured, mangled, shot. At times +their indignation burst forth through arms, as at Rullion Green, +Drumclog, and Bothwell Bridge. Their most brilliant victories were on +the scaffold when they passed triumphantly to the crown; for there was +"a noble army" of martyrs, from Argyle the proto-martyr of the "Killing +times," down to the youthful Renwick, last of the white-robed throng. +The ruin wrought by Charles I. in England "we have likened," says Dr. +Wylie, "to a tropical sunset, where night follows day at a single +stride. But the fall of Scotland into the abyss of oppression and +suffering under Charles II. was like the disastrous eclipse of the sun +in his meridian height, bringing dismal night over the shuddering earth +at the hour of noon." + + "The hills with the deep mournful music were ringing, + The curlew and plover in concert were singing; + But the melody died 'midst derision and laughter, + As the hosts of ungodly rushed on to the slaughter. + + "When the righteous had fallen and the combat had ended, + A chariot of fire through the dark cloud descended; + The drivers were angels on horses of whiteness, + And its burning wheels turned on axles of brightness. + + "On the arch of the rainbow the chariot is gliding; + Through the paths of the thunder the horsemen are riding; + Glide swiftly, bright spirits, the prize is before you, + A crown never fading, a kingdom of glory." + +Throughout the long thirty years of persecution, the decimated +Covenanters still lived. The Banner for Christ's Crown and Covenant was +still waved by them through the blood-stained land. Oftentimes they +issued declarations and protests against the tyranny of their +oppressors, many of which concluded with those inspiriting words at the +close of the last of them, "Let King Jesus reign and all His enemies be +scattered." The most famous of these papers was the Sanquhar +Declaration. On the 22nd of June, 1680, twenty horsemen rode into the +burgh of Sanquhar, and at the market cross read their declaration, in +which they "disowned Charles Stuart that has been reigning (or rather +tyrannizing as we may say) on the throne of Britain these years bygone, +as having any right, title to, or interest in the said Crown of Scotland +for government, as forfeited several years since by his perjury and +breach of Covenant both to God and His Kirk, and usurpation of His Crown +and Royal Prerogatives therein." That courageous act of those twenty +patriots proclaimed the doom of the House of Stuart. + + "Men called it rash, perhaps it was crime: + Their deed flashed out God's will, an hour before the time." + +A few years afterwards, the nations of England and Scotland endorsed the +action of Richard Cameron and his compatriots. The blood of Guthrie, and +Cargill, and MacKail had cried for vengeance, and the God of the +Covenanters hurled the Stuart dynasty from the throne. "Alas! is it not +true?" writes Carlyle in his _Heroes_, "that many men in the van do +always, like Russian soldiers, march into the ditch of Schwiednitz, and +fill it up with their dead bodies, that the rear may pass over them +dry-shod, and gain the honour? How many earnest, rugged Cromwells, +Knoxes, poor peasant Covenanters, wrestling, battling for very life, in +rough, miry places, have to struggle and suffer and fall, greatly +censured, bemired, before a beautiful Revolution of eighty-eight can +step over them in official pumps and silk stockings, with universal +three-times-three!" + +The stedfast followers of the Covenanters expected that, on the +cessation of the persecution, there would be the restoration of the +whole Covenanted Reformation in Church and State. But their just +expectations were doomed to bitter disappointment. Neither by Church nor +State was any proposal ever seriously entertained of renewing the +national Covenants with God, as at the commencement of the Second +Reformation. Instead, the Acts Rescissory were permitted to remain on +the Statute-book, and the Covenants to lie under the infamy to which the +King and the Royalists had consigned them. The State exerted an Erastian +control of the Church, and the Church yielded submission. Her standards +were assigned her before she met; her assemblies were summoned and +prorogued at the sovereign's pleasure; Presbyterianism was established, +not because it possessed a _jus divinum_ but because the people willed +it; her government was controlled through the admission into her +ministry, by royal request, of many who had accepted indulgences and +were supporters of Prelacy. The whole period of the Second Reformation +was almost annihilated by the settlement of the Church, not according to +the periods, 1638 and 1643, but according to 1592. The Acts of the +Assemblies of the Revolution Church never once mention the Solemn League +and Covenant. Ministers who pled for its recognition exposed themselves +to the censures of their brethren. An attempt by the Church, soon after +the Revolution to assert the supremacy of Christ and the Church's +independence under Him, issued in the dissolution of the Assembly by the +royal Commissioner. And this departure of the Church and State at the +Revolution was strikingly and sadly endorsed when, at the Union with +England, Scotland consented that the Prelatic Establishment in England +should be allowed to remain "inviolable for ever." A few "stones had +been gathered from the wreck of the Reformation to be incorporated with +the new structure, but the venerable fabric itself was left in ruins." + +Yes! the Revolution came but not the Reformation. The sword was returned +to its scabbard, but Church and State did not return to their Covenant +God. Into sympathy and fellowship with institutions founded on +principles subversive of those they had vowed to maintain, the faithful +followers of the Reformers and Martyrs could not enter. The banner for +Christ's Crown and Covenant had waved over the fields of Scotland when +the storms of persecution had raged most fiercely, and how could they be +justified in dropping it now when the God of Zion was pleased to command +a calm. The minority who thus preserved an unbroken relationship with +the pre-Revolution and Martyr period continued to meet in "Societies" +for sixteen years, when they were joined by a minister--Rev. John +M'Millan--who was driven out of the Revolution Church because of his +testimony for the whole Covenanted Reformation. Some years afterwards, +another minister espoused the cause then represented by Mr. M'Millan and +the United Societies, and this union resulted in the constitution of the +Reformed Presbytery. Two years afterwards, in 1712, the members of the +Reformed Presbyterian Church engaged in the work of Covenant Renovation, +at Auchensaugh, near Douglas, in Lanarkshire. Since that time this +Church has had an unbroken history, excepting a disruption in 1863, when +a majority departed from her distinctive position. + +But what is the bearing of Scotland's Covenanted Reformation of three +centuries ago, on the Scotland of the present times? Has it no +instruction for all times? Is the whole prolonged struggle, with all its +chequered scenes, but a panorama on which spectators may gaze with but +passing emotions? Is it all but a story with interest, however +thrilling, for the study of the antiquarian? If so then the whole +contendings of Reformers and Covenanters and Martyrs sink into +insignificance indeed; they have been assigned a magnitude far beyond +their desert. If the doctrines and principles for whose application in +Church and State they fought and suffered, were unscriptural, then let +an enlightened posterity bury with shame the story of their warfare. Or, +if they were of mere temporary importance, then the Covenanters merit no +higher admiration than that accorded to those who, like the Armenians +now in Turkey, cry out against the oppressions of the civil power. But +these doctrines and principles were brought from the Word of God and +possess imperishable excellency. Their glory was not temporal; it is +eternal. And they shall yet undergo a resurrection and receive +universally a joyous recognition. + +The obligation of these national Covenants on the British nation still +has been oftentimes demonstrated by indisputable arguments. The Word of +God teaches in the most pointed manner this principle of devolving +Covenant obligation. The God of Israel threatened His people with +chastisement for breaking the Covenant He had made with their fathers +four hundred years before. The Covenanters themselves bound their +posterity to God by express words in their bonds. The renovation of +Covenants at various times proceeded on this principle. In the time of +persecution, the sufferers again and again declared that they and others +were bound by the vows of their fathers. "God hath laid engagements upon +Scotland," said Argyle on the scaffold, "we are tied by Covenants to +religion and Reformation; and it passeth the power of all the +magistrates under heaven to absolve from the oath of God." The +scriptural character of their contents infers the perpetual obligation +of these Covenants. All who accept the Scriptures as the Word of God, +must renounce the errors condemned by the Covenants and contend for the +truths those who subscribed them pledged themselves to maintain. No +Christian should ever dare to seek relief from the claims of Christ; it +is his honour to acknowledge and live and die for them. These deeds were +as national as any in the statute-book and therefore they are obligatory +still, for the nation in its corporate character is the same now as +three hundred years ago. Their perpetual obligation may be resisted, as +it often is, on the plea that a people have no right to bind posterity. +But should such a plea be declared valid, then society would be thrown +into the wildest disorder and temporal ruin would overtake millions. +Heirs could be justified in refusing to fulfil the instructions of +testators; young people could condemn the baptismal vows taken by +parents; governments and cabinets could tear up the treaties of their +predecessors; and the nation itself could repudiate the national debt. +Those who enter into the possession of valuable estates, secured for +them by the toil and struggles of ancestry, do not renounce their +estates because they themselves were not consulted in the execution of +the title deeds. These deeds of the Covenanters, and the heritage +secured by them, were obtained through the noblest sacrifices. They were +deeds presented before the Throne, and registered in the Court of +heaven, and those who repudiate them incur the risk of an awful +forfeiture. + +The present conditions in Church and State throughout the British Isles, +force upon the minds of all who admire the Reformation the facts that +the doctrines and principles of those Reformations are even now ignored +and despised, and that the systems which were cast out by the whole +nation through their Covenants are now in power. The objects sought by +the Covenants have not yet been realized. In several sad respects, both +Church and State are in positions of acute antagonism to those great +catholic objects. An ecclesiastical supremacy in the British sovereign +rears its head over these Covenanted kingdoms; for, as Blackstone +writes, this supremacy is "an inherent right of the British Crown." The +"Anti-Christian" hierarchy of Prelacy is implanted in the national +constitution and sustained by the whole prestige of the realm. Under its +lordly bewitchery, Erastianism prevails in the Established Churches of +the kingdom. The Oath of Allegiance implicates all who take it in an +acknowledgment of the ecclesiastical supremacy of the sovereign as "by +law established," and this Oath must be taken by every member of +Parliament before he can sit and vote in the House, under a penalty of +five hundred pounds. The basis of qualification for membership in +Parliament has been so much altered in recent times that Roman +Catholics, atheists, and now idolaters are admitted--changes which have +been demanded by the vast majority of the non-established Churches, who +are pleading for the exclusion of religion from all State institutions. +The Papacy, through its various agencies, is in receipt of more than a +million and a quarter pounds annually from the national funds. A +wide-spread reaction in favour of the Romish religion is going forward, +and is being powerfully assisted by the Romanizing movement in the +Church of England, and the Ritualistic in the Presbyterian Churches +throughout the kingdom. + +Had the two nations and their Churches adhered to their National +Covenants and the Solemn League and Covenant, and to the formularies +prepared by the international Assembly at Westminster, the lovers of the +Covenanted Reformation would not have had these portentous conditions to +deplore to-day. Would their adherence to those deeds and documents have +done them any dishonour? And would it not be to the lasting honour of +their posterity now, if a movement were originated and carried through +to reproduce with all possible fulness the scenes of the past--another +Greyfriars, Edinburgh, and another St. Margarets, Westminster. But, even +apart from the historical aspect of the whole matter, the question may, +in the presence of these monstrous evils, be pressed upon the attention +and heart of all the people throughout the land? What ought to be done +to remove these evils and avert the disaster which their continuance +must entail? What ought the British subject, if a patriot, do, in the +face of evils which threaten the ruin of his kingdom? What ought the +Protestant to do, in the presence of a government and administration +which are daily advancing the court of Rome to power? What the +Presbyterian, who cannot take the Oath of Allegiance without committing +himself to the hierarchy of Prelacy? What the Christian, in the presence +of systems in imperial politics which have already dethroned Christ and +are hastening to expel Him from all national institutions? Is there no +means by which the Christian citizen can exonerate himself from +national sins, and free himself of all responsibility for national +calamity? Must he still exercise his right to vote and give his support +to governments which, in the hands of both political parties, are +augmenting rather than diminishing the existing evils? If the members of +one political party secede from that party, when changes they cannot +accept are welcomed to their programme, and henceforth refuse them their +support at the polling-booth, would it not be proper that men, sensible +of the utter inadequacy of the performances of both parties to meet the +evils under which the nation lies, should stand aloof from both +government and opposition? The leading Unionists in Ireland again and +again declared that they could not possibly enter into the proposed +Parliament under Home Rule which would be set up in Dublin, and their +declarations awakened universal sympathy. For reasons similar, should +not all Christian electors refuse to identify themselves with a +constitution and government which are based on principles subversive of +independence and liberty? Protests against existing evils are not +sufficient. Practical political dissent is imperatively demanded in the +interests of patriotism and Christianity. If even one-tenth of the +electors in the United Kingdom prepared a paper of grievances, setting +forth the present dishonours done to Christ nationally, and calling for +the abandonment of all that is unscriptural in the public policy, and +the adoption of what is scriptural and honouring to Christ, and +accompany this manifesto with a declaration that they cannot violate +their convictions by identifying themselves with the government till +reforms be conceded, would not such a movement touch the mind and heart +of the nation as no question in party politics has done for generations? +Their attitude of separation would carry extraordinary dignity and +power. And they could plead too that the evils of which they complained +were abjured by the nation universally, when the National Covenants +were taken in Scotland, England, and Ireland, and when Sovereigns and +Members of Parliament again subscribed them as a condition of the high +offices to which they were called. How could they loyally support a +Constitution now so opposite to the ancient Scriptural and Covenanted +Constitution of the realm? The Reformed Presbyterian Churches of +Scotland and Ireland are the only Churches within the British Dominions +that take this position of political dissent. Their fathers took it at +the Revolution settlement, and they have maintained it all through these +centuries till now; and they have done so not because they love the +nation less, but Christ more. If this position were assumed by larger +numbers throughout the land, who knoweth whether they would "not come to +the kingdom for such a time as this?" "Shall the throne of iniquity have +fellowship with Thee, that frameth mischief by a law?" "Wherefore, come +out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord." + + "Hope thou not, then, earth's alliance, + Take thy stand behind the cross; + Fear, lest by unblest compliance, + Thou transmute thy gold to dross. + Stedfast in thy meek endurance, + Prophesy in sackcloth on; + Hast thou not the pledged assurance, + Kings one day shall kiss the Son." + +The popular acceptance of these doctrines and principles by the State +and the Churches at present, would imply a vast mental upheaval--a vast +moral revolution. But the best hopes and wishes for the nation at large +are that it will come and come soon, and the present evils, however +great, must not be allowed to produce a pessimistic tone. Very hopeless +seemed the prospects before the first Reformation, but that Reformation +came. Very hopeless seemed the prospects before the second Reformation, +but that Reformation came. And however dark the prospects now before a +third Reformation, that Reformation shall come! The world is nearing the +last stage of its history, as pointed out by Daniel in the dream of the +monarch of Babylon, prior to the overwhelming and triumphant progress of +the stone-kingdom, cut out of the mountain. That immense image of +Nebuchadnezzar, in its gold and silver and brass and iron, represented +those four vast monarchies which, in their successive periods, swayed +the government of the world. But in the fact that the image was in the +form of a man, the spirit that actuated these four empires of earth is +strikingly emphasized--the spirit of the idolatry of humanity. They were +all embodiments of the man-will: Babels for the incarnation of +heaven-daring human aspirations, and so carried within even their +colossal proportions the elements of confusion and death. A similar lust +of humanity for supremacy characterises those Kingdoms, represented by +the ten toes of the image, into which the fourth Roman monarchy parted. +But soon now, therefore, must sound out the last blast of the seventh +trumpet, when the idolatry of humanity in earth's kingdoms shall fall, +and the spirit and will of Christ pervade and beautify all the +institutions, ecclesiastical and imperial, of the world. Yes, the +kingdom "not in hands" shall shatter yet all the usurped rights of the +world-powers. There shall be a glorious reversal of the disaster in +Eden. That old Adamic principle of a legislative sovereignty in man, +which has convulsed the nations for six thousand years, shall be utterly +renounced and crucified the world over. Ruin irreparable shall befall +the entire empire of Satan, who shall be chained in his lake, as the +pealing note of that trumpet of God shall swell over all the earth. The +throne of God and the Lamb shall be erected by public consent as the +unifying source and centre for people, churches, and empires. The whole +world of humanity shall be redeemed from sin and its curse, be animated +by one Spirit, and triumphant in one Lord. + +May not the true Christian, then, as he thinks of the idolatrous form in +the dream of the monarch of Babylon, and looks in the watches of the +night for the dawn, when Christ Jesus his Lord shall be honoured +throughout the world, behold rising before his eyes in his dream another +colossal figure; and its head is gold, and its breasts and arms gold, +and its belly and thighs gold, and its legs and feet and toes gold; yea +all of it "is as the most fine gold;" and the head representing the +powers of the great American Continents; the breast and arms, Asia; the +belly and thighs, Africa; the legs and feet, Europe, and the toes the +Isles of the Sea--the British Isles with the rest. And the form of the +great earth-filling figure is that of Jesus of Nazareth, the Man of +Jehovah's right hand. And lo! "I saw heaven opened, and I heard as it +were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, +and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia, for the Lord +God Omnipotent reigneth." + + "Come, then, and, added to Thy many crowns, + Receive yet one, the crown of all the earth, + Thou who alone art worthy! It was Thine + By ancient covenant, ere nature's birth; + And Thou hast made it Thine by purchase since + And overpaid its value with Thy blood. + Thy saints proclaim Thee King! And in their hearts + Thy title is engraven with a pen + Dipp'd in the fountain of eternal love." + + + + +THE NATIONAL COVENANT + + + + +[Illustration: GREYFRIARS CHURCHYARD, EDINBURGH.] + +THE NATIONAL COVENANT + +OR, + +THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. + + +_Subscribed at first by the King's Majesty and his household, in the +year of God 1580; thereafter by persons of all ranks in the year of God +1581, by Ordinance of the Lords of Secret Council, and Acts of the +General Assembly; subscribed again by all sorts of persons in the year +of God 1590. Secondly: And with Ordinance of the Lords of Secret +Council, and Acts of General Assembly, subscribed again by all sorts of +persons in the year of God 1590. Thirdly: And with Ordinance of Council, +at the desire of the General Assembly; with their general bond for +maintenance of the true religion, and of the Kings Majesty; and now +subscribed in the year of God 1638, by us, Noblemen, Baronets, +Gentlemen, Burgesses, Ministers, and Commons under subscribed; and, +together with a resolution and promise, for the causes after expressed, +to maintain the true, religion and King's Majesty, according to the +Confession aforesaid, and the Acts of Parliament, the so much of which +followeth:--_ + +We all and every one of us under-written, protest, That, after long and +due examination of our own consciences in matters of true and false +religion, we are now thoroughly resolved in the truth by the Spirit and +Word of God: and therefore we believe with our hearts, confess with our +mouths, subscribe with our hands, and constantly affirm, before God and +the whole world, that this only is the true Christian faith and +religion, pleasing God, and bringing salvation to man, which now is, by +the mercy of God, revealed to the world by the preaching of the blessed +evangel; and is received, believed, and defended by many and sundry +notable kirks and realms, but chiefly by the Kirk of Scotland, the +King's Majesty, and three estates of this realm, as God's eternal truth, +and only ground of our salvation; as more particularly is expressed in +the Confession of our Faith, established and publicly confirmed by +sundry Acts of Parliaments, and now of a long time hath been openly +professed by the King's Majesty, and whole body of this realm both in +burgh and land. To the which Confession and Form of Religion we +willingly agree in our conscience in all points, as unto God's undoubted +truth and verity, grounded only upon His written Word. And therefore we +abhor and detest all contrary religion and doctrine; but chiefly all +kind of Papistry in general and particular heads, even as they are now +damned and confuted by the Word of God and Kirk of Scotland. But, in +special, we detest and refuse the usurped authority of that Roman +Antichrist upon the Scriptures of God, upon the Kirk, the civil +magistrate, and consciences of men; all his tyrannous laws made upon +indifferent things against our Christian liberty; his erroneous doctrine +against the sufficiency of the written Word, the perfection of the law, +the office of Christ, and His blessed evangel; his corrupted doctrine +concerning original sin, our natural inability and rebellion to God's +law, our justification by faith only, our imperfect sanctification and +obedience to the law; the nature, number, and use of the holy +sacraments; his five bastard sacraments, with all his rites, ceremonies, +and false doctrine, added to the ministration of the true sacraments +without the word of God; his cruel judgment against infants departing +without the sacrament; his absolute necessity of baptism; his +blasphemous opinion of transubstantiation, or real presence of Christ's +body in the elements, and receiving of the same by the wicked, or bodies +of men; his dispensations with solemn oaths, perjuries, and degrees of +marriage forbidden in the Word; his cruelty against the innocent +divorced; his devilish mass; his blasphemous priesthood; his profane +sacrifice for sins of the dead and the quick; his canonization of men; +calling upon angels or saints departed, worshipping of imagery, relics, +and crosses; dedicating of kirks, altars, days; vows to creatures; his +purgatory, prayers for the dead; praying or speaking in a strange +language, with his processions, and blasphemous litany, and multitude of +advocates or mediators; his manifold orders, auricular confession; his +desperate and uncertain repentance; his general and doubtsome faith; his +satisfactions of men for their sins; his justification by works, _opus +operatum_, works of supererogation, merits, pardons, peregrinations, and +stations; his holy water, baptizing of bells, conjuring of spirits, +crossing, sayning, anointing, conjuring, hallowing of God's good +creatures, with the superstitious opinion joined therewith; his worldly +monarchy, and wicked hierarchy; his three solemn vows, with all his +shavellings of sundry sorts; his erroneous and bloody decrees made at +Trent, with all the subscribers or approvers of that cruel and bloody +band, conjured against the Kirk of God. And finally, we detest all his +vain allegories, rites, signs, and traditions brought in the Kirk, +without or against the word of God, and doctrine of this true reformed +Kirk; to the which we join ourselves willingly, in doctrine, faith, +religion, discipline, and use of the holy sacraments, as lively members +of the same in Christ our head: promising and swearing, by the great +name of the LORD our GOD, that we shall continue in the obedience of the +doctrine and discipline of this Kirk, and shall defend the same, +according to our vocation and power, all the days of our lives; under +the pains contained in the law, and danger both of body and soul in the +day of God's fearful judgment. + +And seeing that many are stirred up by Satan, and that Roman Antichrist, +to promise, swear, subscribe, and for a time use the holy sacraments in +the Kirk deceitfully, against their own conscience; minding hereby, +first, under the external cloak of religion, to corrupt and subvert +secretly God's true religion within the Kirk; and afterward, when time +may serve, to become open enemies and persecutors of the same, under +vain hope of the Pope's dispensation, devised against the Word of God, +to his greater confusion, and their double condemnation in the day of +the Lord Jesus: we therefore, willing to take away all suspicion of +hypocrisy, and of such double dealing with God and His Kirk, protest, +and call the Searcher of all hearts for witness, that our minds and +hearts do fully agree with this our Confession, promise, oath, and +subscription: so that we are not moved with any worldly respect, but are +persuaded only in our conscience, through the knowledge and love of +God's true religion imprinted in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, as we +shall answer to Him in the day when the secrets of all hearts shall be +disclosed. + +And because we perceive that the quietness and stability of our religion +and Kirk doth depend upon the safety and good behaviour of the King's +Majesty, as upon a comfortable instrument of God's mercy granted to this +country, for the maintaining of His Kirk and ministration of justice +amongst us; we protest and promise with our hearts, under the same oath, +hand-writ, and pains, that we shall defend His person and authority with +our goods, bodies, and lives, in the defence of Christ His evangel, +liberties of our country, ministration of justice, and punishment of +iniquity, against all enemies within this realm or without, as we desire +our God to be a strong and merciful defender to us in the day of our +death, and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ; to whom, with the Father, +and the Holy Spirit, be all honour and glory eternally. _Amen._ + +Likeas many Acts of Parliament, not only in general do abrogate, annul, +and rescind all laws, statutes, acts, constitutions, canons civil or +municipal, with all other ordinances, and practique penalties +whatsoever, made in prejudice of the true religion, and professors +thereof; or of the true Kirk, discipline, jurisdiction, and freedom +thereof; or in favours of idolatry and superstition, or of the +Papistical kirk: As Act 3, Act 31, Parl. 1; Act 23, Parl. 11; Act 114, +Parl. 12, of King James VI. That Papistry and superstition may be +utterly suppressed, according to the intention of the Acts of +Parliament, repeated in the 5th Act, Parl. 20, King James VI. And to +that end they ordain all Papists and Priests to be punished with +manifold civil and ecclesiastical pains, as adversaries to God's true +religion preached, and by law established, within this realm, Act 24, +Parl. 11, King James VI.; as common enemies to all Christian government, +Act 18, Parl. 16, King James VI.; as rebellers and gainstanders of our +Sovereign Lord's authority, Act 47, Parl. 3, King James VI.; and as +idolaters, Act 104, Parl. 7, King James VI. But also in particular, by +and attour the Confession of Faith, do abolish and condemn the Pope's +authority and jurisdiction out of this land, and ordains the maintainers +thereof to be punished, Act 2, Parl. 1; Act 51, Parl. 3; Act 106, Parl. +7; Act 114, Parl. 12, King James VI.: do condemn the Pope's erroneous +doctrine, or any other erroneous doctrine repugnant to any of the +articles of the true and Christian religion, publicly preached, and by +law established in this realm; and ordains the spreaders and makers of +books or libels, or letters or writs of that nature to be punished, Act +46, Parl. 3; Act 106, Parl. 7; Act 24, Parl. 11, King James VI.: do +condemn all baptism conform to the Pope's kirk, and the idolatry of the +mass; and ordains all sayers, wilful hearers and concealers of the mass, +the maintainers and resetters of the priests, Jesuits, trafficking +Papists, to be punished without any exception or restriction, Act 5, +Parl. 1; Act 120, Parl. 12; Act 164, Parl. 13; Act 193, Parl. 14; Act 1, +Parl. 19; Act 5, Parl. 20, King James VI.: do condemn all erroneous +books and writs containing erroneous doctrine against the religion +presently professed, or containing superstitious rites and ceremonies +Papistical, whereby the people are greatly abused, and ordains the +home-bringers of them to be punished, Act 25, Parl. II, King James VI.: +do condemn the monuments and dregs of bygone idolatry, as going to +crosses, observing the festival days of saints, and such other +superstitious and Papistical rites, to the dishonour of God, contempt of +true religion, and fostering of great error among the people; and +ordains the users of them to be punished for the second fault, as +idolaters, Act 104, Parl. 7, King James VI. + +Likeas many Acts of Parliament are conceived for maintenance of God's +true and Christian religion, and the purity thereof, in doctrine and +sacraments of the true Church of God, the liberty and freedom thereof, +in her national, synodal assemblies, presbyteries, sessions, policy, +discipline, and jurisdiction thereof; as that purity of religion, and +liberty of the Church was used, professed, exercised, preached, and +confessed, according to the reformation of religion in this realm: As +for instance, the 99th Act, Parl. 7; Act 25, Parl. 11; Act 114, Parl. +12; Act 160, Parl. 13, of King James VI., ratified by the 4th Act of +King Charles. So that the 6th Act, Parl. 1, and 68th Act, Parl. 6, of +King James VI., in the year of God 1579, declare the ministers of the +blessed evangel, whom God of His mercy had raised up, or hereafter +should raise, agreeing with them that then lived, in doctrine and +administration of the sacraments; and the people that professed Christ, +as He was then offered in the evangel, and doth communicate with the +holy sacraments (as in the reformed kirks of this realm they were +presently administrate) according to the Confession of Faith, to be the +true and holy kirk of Christ Jesus within this realm. And decerns and +declares all and sundry, who either gainsay the Word of the evangel +received and approved as the heads of the Confession of Faith, professed +in Parliament in the year of God 1560, specified also in the first +Parliament of King James VI., and ratified in this present Parliament, +more particularly do express; or that refuse the administration of the +holy sacraments as they were then ministrated--to be no members of the +said Kirk within this realm, and true religion presently professed, so +long as they keep themselves so divided from the society of Christ's +body. And the subsequent Act 69, Parl. 6, of King James VI., declares, +that there is no other face of kirk, nor other face of religion, than +was presently at that time by the favour of God established within this +realm: "Which therefore is ever styled God's true religion, Christ's +true religion, the true and Christian religion, and a perfect religion;" +which, by manifold Acts of Parliament, all within this realm are bound +to profess, to subscribe the articles thereof, the Confession of Faith, +to recant all doctrine and errors repugnant to any of the said articles, +Acts 4 and 9, Parl. 1; Acts 45, 46, 47, Parl. 3; Act 71, Parl. 6; Act +106, Parl. 7; Act 24, Parl. 11; Act 123, Parl. 12; Acts 194 and 197, +Parl. 14, of King James VI. And all magistrates, sheriffs, &c., on the +one part, are ordained to search, apprehend, and punish all +contraveners: For instance Act 5, Parl. 1; Act 104, Parl. 7; Act 25, +Parl. 11, King James VI.; and that notwithstanding of the King's +Majesty's licences on the contrary, which are discharged, and declared +to be of no force, in so far as they tend in any wise to the prejudice +and hinder of the execution of the Acts of Parliament against Papists +and adversaries of true religion, Act 106, Parl. 7, King James VI. On +the other part, in the 47th Act, Parl. 3, King James VI., it is declared +and ordained, Seeing the cause of God's true religion and his Highness's +authority are so joined, as the hurt of the one is common to both, that +none shall be reputed as loyal and faithful subjects to our Sovereign +Lord, or his authority, but be punishable as rebellers and gainstanders +of the same, who shall not give their confession and make their +profession of the said true religion: and that they who, after +defection, shall give the confession of their faith of new, they shall +promise to continue therein in time coming, to maintain our Sovereign +Lord's authority, and at the uttermost of their power to fortify, +assist, and maintain the true preachers and professors of Christ's +religion, against whatsoever enemies and gainstanders of the same; and +namely, against all such, of whatsoever nation, estate, or degree they +be of, that have joined or bound themselves, or have assisted, or +assist, to set forward and execute the cruel decrees of the Council of +Trent, contrary to the true preachers and professors of the word of God; +which is repeated, word by word, in the articles of pacification at +Perth, the 23rd of February, 1572; approved by Parliament the last of +April, 1573; ratified in Parliament 1587, and related Act 123, Parl. 12, +of King James VI.; with this addition, "That they are bound to resist +all treasonable uproars and hostilities raised against the true +religion, the King's Majesty, and the true professors." + +Likeas, all lieges are bound to maintain the King's Majesty's royal +person and authority, the authority of Parliaments, without the which +neither any laws or lawful judicatories can be established, Acts 130 and +131, Parl. 8, King James VI., and the subjects' liberties, who ought +only to live and be governed by the King's laws, the common laws of this +realm allenarly, Act 48, Parl. 3, King James I.; Act 79, Parl. 6, King +James IV.; repeated in the Act 131, Parl. 8, King James VI.; which if +they be innovated and prejudged, "the commission anent the union of the +two kingdoms of Scotland and England, which is the sole act of the 17th +Parl. of King James VI., declares," such confusion would ensue as this +realm could be no more a free monarchy; because, by the fundamental +laws, ancient privileges, offices, and liberties of this kingdom, not +only the princely authority of his Majesty's royal descent hath been +these many ages maintained, but also the people's security of their +lands, livings, rights, offices, liberties, and dignities preserved. And +therefore, for the preservation of the said true religion, laws, and +liberties of this kingdom, it is statute by the 8th Act, Parl. 1, +repeated in the 99th Act, Parl. 7, ratified in the 23rd Act, Parl. 11, +and 114th Act, Parl. 12, of King James VI., and 4th Act, Parl. 1, of +King Charles I.--"That all Kings and Princes at their coronation, and +reception of their princely authority, shall make their faithful promise +by their solemn oath, in the presence of the eternal God, that enduring +the whole time of their lives, they shall serve the same eternal God to +the uttermost of their power, according as He hath required in His most +holy Word, contained in the Old and New Testament; and according to the +same Word, shall maintain the true religion of Christ Jesus, the +preaching of His holy Word, the due and right ministration of the +sacraments now received and preached within this realm, (according to +the Confession of Faith immediately preceding,) and shall abolish and +gainstand all false religion contrary to the same; and shall rule the +people committed to their charge, according to the will and command of +God revealed in His foresaid Word, and according to the laudable laws +and constitutions received in this realm, nowise repugnant to the said +will of the eternal God; and shall procure, to the uttermost of their +power, to the Kirk of God, and whole Christian people, true and perfect +peace in all time coming: and that they shall be careful to root out of +their empire all heretics and enemies to the true worship of God, who +shall be convicted by the true Kirk of God of the foresaid crimes." +Which was also observed by his Majesty, at his coronation in Edinburgh, +1633, as may be seen in the order of the coronation. + +In obedience to the commandment of God, conform to the practice of the +godly in former times, and according to the laudable example of our +worthy and religious progenitors and of many yet living amongst us, +which was warranted also by Act of Council, commanding a general band to +be made and subscribed by his Majesty's subjects of all ranks; for two +causes: one was, For defending the true religion, as it was then +reformed, and is expressed in the Confession of Faith above written, and +a former large Confession established by sundry acts of lawful General +Assemblies and of Parliaments, unto which it hath relation, set down in +public Catechisms; and which hath been for many years, with a blessing +from Heaven, preached and professed in this Kirk and kingdom, as God's +undoubted truth, grounded only upon His written Word. The other cause +was, For maintaining the King's Majesty, his person and estate; the true +worship of God and the King's authority being so straitly joined, as +that they had the same friends, and common enemies, and did stand and +fall together. And finally, being convinced in our minds, and confessing +with our mouths, that the present and succeeding generations in this +land are bound to keep the foresaid national oath and subscription +inviolable, + +We Noblemen, Barons, Gentlemen, Burgesses, Ministers, and Commons +under-subscribing, considering divers times before, and especially at +this time, the danger of the true reformed religion, of the King's +honour, and of the public peace of the kingdom, by the manifold +innovations and evils, generally contained, and particularly mentioned +in our late supplications, complaints, and protestations; do hereby +profess, and before God, His angels, and the world, solemnly declare, +That with our whole hearts we agree, and resolve all the days of our +life constantly to adhere unto and to defend the foresaid true religion, +and (forbearing the practice of all novations already introduced in the +matters of the worship of God, or approbation of the corruptions of the +public government of the Kirk, or civil places and power of kirkmen, +till they be tried and allowed in free Assemblies and in Parliament) to +labour, by all means, to recover the purity and liberty of the Gospel, +as it was established and professed before the foresaid novations. And +because, after due examination, we plainly perceive, and undoubtedly +believe, that the innovations and evils contained in our supplications, +complaints, and protestations, have no warrant of the Word of God, are +contrary to the articles of the foresaid Confession, to the intention +and meaning of the blessed reformers of religion in this land, to the +above-written Acts of Parliament; and do sensibly tend to the +re-establishing of the Popish religion and tyranny, and to the +subversion and ruin of the true reformed religion, and of our liberties, +laws, and estates; we also declare, That the foresaid Confessions are to +be interpreted, and ought to be understood of the foresaid novations and +evils, no less than if every one of them had been expressed in the +foresaid Confessions; and that we are obliged to detest and abhor them, +amongst other particular heads of Papistry abjured therein. And +therefore, from the knowledge and conscience of our duty to God, to our +King and country, without any worldly respect or inducement, so far as +human infirmity will suffer, wishing a further measure of the grace of +God for this effect; we promise and swear, by the GREAT NAME OF THE LORD +OUR GOD, to continue in the profession and obedience of the aforesaid +religion; and that we shall defend the same, and resist all these +contrary errors and corruptions, according to our vocation, and to the +uttermost of that power that God hath put in our hands, all the days of +our life. + +And in like manner, with the same heart, we declare before God and men, +That we have no intention nor desire to attempt any thing that may turn +to the dishonour of God, or to the diminution of the King's greatness +and authority; but, on the contrary, we promise and swear, That we +shall, to the uttermost of our power, with our means and lives, stand to +the defence of our dread Sovereign the King's Majesty, his person and +authority, in the defence and preservation of the foresaid true +religion, liberties, and laws of the kingdom; as also to the mutual +defence and assistance every one of us of another, in the same cause of +maintaining the true religion, and his Majesty's authority, with our +best counsel, our bodies, means, and whole power, against all sorts of +persons whatsoever; so that whatsoever shall be done to the least of us +for that cause, shall be taken as done to us all in general, and to +every one of us in particular. And that we shall neither directly nor +indirectly suffer ourselves to be divided or withdrawn, by whatsoever +suggestion, combination, allurement, or terror, from this blessed and +loyal conjunction; nor shall cast in any let or impediment that may stay +or hinder any such resolution as by common consent shall be found to +conduce for so good ends; but, on the contrary, shall by all lawful +means labour to further and promote the same: and if any such dangerous +and divisive motion be made to us by word or writ, we, and every one of +us, shall either suppress it, or, if need be, shall incontinent make the +same known, that it may be timeously obviated. Neither do we fear the +foul aspersions of rebellion, combination, or what else our adversaries, +from their craft and malice, would put upon us; seeing what we do is +well warranted, and ariseth from an unfeigned desire to maintain the +true worship of God, the majesty of our King, and the peace of the +kingdom, for the common happiness of ourselves and our posterity. + +And because we cannot look for a blessing from God upon our proceedings, +except with our profession and subscription we join such a life and +conversation as beseemeth Christians who have renewed their covenant +with God; we therefore faithfully promise for ourselves, our followers, +and all others under us, both in public, and in our particular families, +and personal carriage, to endeavour to keep ourselves within the bounds +of Christian liberty, and to be good examples to others of all +godliness, soberness, and righteousness, and of every duty we owe to +God and man. + +And, that this our union and conjunction may be observed without +violation, we call the LIVING GOD, THE SEARCHER OF OUR HEARTS, to +witness, who knoweth this to be our sincere desire and unfeigned +resolution, as we shall answer to JESUS CHRIST in the great day, and +under the pain of God's everlasting wrath, and of infamy and loss of all +honour and respect in this world: most humbly beseeching the LORD to +strengthen us by His HOLY SPIRIT for this end, and to bless our desires +and proceedings with a happy success; that religion and righteousness +may flourish in the land, to the glory of GOD, the honour of our King, +and peace and comfort of us all. In witness whereof, we have subscribed +with our hands all the premises. + +The article of this Covenant within written and within subscribed, which +was at the first subscription referred to the determination of the +General Assembly, being now determined, on the fifth of December, 1638, +and hereby the five articles of Perth, the government of the Kirk by +bishops, being declared to be abjured and removed, and the civil places +and power of kirkmen declared unlawful, we subscribe according to the +determination of the said lawful and free General Assembly, holden at +Glasgow. + + + + +THE NATIONAL COVENANT: + +EXHORTATION TO THE LORDS OF COUNCIL.[1] + + +_May it please your Lordship_, + +We, the ministers of the Gospel, conveened at this so necessary a time +do find ourselves bound to represent, as unto all, so in special unto +your lordship what comfortable experience we have of the wonderful +favour of God, upon the renewing of the Confession of Faith and +Covenant; what peace and comfort hath filled the hearts of all God's +people; what resolutions and beginnings of reformation of manners are +sensibly perceived in all parts of the kingdom, above any measure that +ever we did find, or could have expected; how great glory the Lord hath +received hereby, and what confidence we have (if this sunshine be not +eclipsed by some sinful division or defection) that God shall make this +a blessed kingdom, to the contentment of the king's majesty, and joy of +all his good subjects, according as God hath promised in His good Word, +and performed to His people in former times: and therefore we are +forced, from our hearts, both to wish and entreat your lordship to be +partaker and promover of this joy and happiness by your subscription, +when your lordship shall think it convenient; and in the mean time, that +your lordship would not be sparing to give a free testimony to the +truth, as a timely and necessary expression of your tender affection to +the cause of Christ, now calling for help at your hands. Your lordship's +profession of the true religion, as it was reformed in this land; the +national oath of this kingdom, sundry times sworn and subscribed, +obliging us who live at this time; the duty of a good patriot, the +office and trust of a privy councillor, the present employment, to have +place amongst those that are first acquainted with his majesty's +pleasure; the consideration that this is the time of trial of your +lordship's affection to religion, the respect which your lordship hath +unto your fame, both now and hereafter, when things shall be recorded to +posterity; and the remembrance, that not only the eyes of men and angels +are upon your lordship's carriage, but also that the Lord Jesus is a +secret witness now to observe, and shall be an open judge hereafter, to +reward and confess every man before His Father, that confesseth Him +before men: all of these, and each of them, beside your lordship's +personal and particular obligations to God, do call for no less at your +lordship's hands, in the case of so great and singular necessity: and we +also do expect so much at this time, according as your lordship at the +hour of death would be free of the terror of God, and be refreshed with +the comfortable remembrance of a word spoken in season for Christ Jesus, +King of kings, and Lord of lords. + + + + +THE NATIONAL COVENANT. + +SERMON AT ST. ANDREWS. + +_BY ALEXANDER HENDERSON._[2] + +"Thy people shall be willing in the day of Thy power, in the +beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning; Thou hast the +dew of thy youth."--_Psalm_ cx. 3. + + +It is, beloved in the Lord, very expedient, and sometimes most necessar, +that we turn away our eyes from kings and their greatness, from kirkmen +and men of state, and that we turn them towards another object, and look +only to Jesus Christ, who is the great king, priest, and prophet of His +kirk. The godly in former times, who were kings, priests, and prophets +themselves, used to do this, and that before Christ; and mickle more is +it required of us now in thir days, seeing we live in troublesome times; +for there is a comfort that comes to the children of God that way. The +first part of this psalm expresses to us the threefold office of Christ, +and the second part of it expresses the valiant acts our Lord Jesus does +by these His three offices, but especially by His Princely office; whilk +indeed is His worst studied office by many men in the world. We would, +many of us, willingly take Him for our prophet to teach us, and for our +priest to intercede for us, and be a sacrifice for our sins, but when +it comes to His Princely office, to direct us what we should do, then we +would be at that whilk seems best in our own eyes. + +His Princely office is described unto us here three ways. 1. In relation +to God Himself; "The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at My right hand." +2. In respect of His enemies; "The Lord sall send the rod of thy +strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thy enemies." Were His +enemies never so many, and never so despiteful against Him, yet He sall +rule in the midst of them. And indeed this is a very admirable part of +His kingly office, that even in the midst of His enemies He sall have a +kingdom for Himself, in despite of them, and all that they can do or say +against it. 3. The third, wherein the glory of His kingly office +consists, is in thir words that I have read to you: and that is in +relation to, and in respect of the subjects of the kingdom of Christ. +And they are described here to be a people belonging to Jesus Christ; to +be a people on whom God manifests His power; and they are a most willing +people, a people who count holiness to be their chiefest beauty. And +they are so marvellously multiplied, that it is a wonder to consider of +it: there is no more drops of dew will fall, nor they will not fall any +faster in a morning than the Lord will multiply them, when He is pleased +to do so. And although the Lord sometimes multiply them in a secret +manner, yet still the multitude stands to be true. + +That the purposes may be the better tane up by you who will take heed to +them, consider of these parts in the words. 1. The persons of whom the +Psalmist speaks here. "Thy people." 2. The properties of these people in +this day: They sall be a willing people; a holy people; a people who +sall be miraculously multiplied. And so their properties is willingness, +holiness, and multiplication. + +Many proofs has been of the truth of this prophecy since the +beginning--that the Lord's people sall be willing in the day of His +power, in the beauties of holiness; from the womb of the morning thou +hast the dew of thy youth. There were many evident proofs of the truth +of this since the beginning of the plantation of the gospel into the +world. And surely we know not a more evident and notable proof of it +than this same that is presently into this land, nor think I that there +be any who can show the parallel of it. The Lord has made them willingly +to offer up themselves, and all that they have, for Him. And they are a +people of holiness; albeit it is true, indeed, many has been brought to +it from this quarter and that quarter of the land, since the beginning, +to be more holy than they used to be. And if the multiplication of them +be not wonderful, I cannot tell what ye will tell me of that is more +wonderful; so that indeed it is a miracle to all who hear of it. In the +time while Christ was upon the earth there were two sorts of miracles to +be seen;--first, Christ made the dumb to speak, the blind to see, the +lame to walk, &c.: this indeed was a great miracle. The second sort of +miracles was of him who did see these things wrought by Christ, and yet +for all that, did not believe in Him who did work them. Even so there +are two sorts of wonders in this same time wherein we live;--first, how +the Lord has multiplied His people, and made them to be so many, +whereas, at the first, we thought them to be but very few; secondly, we +cannot but wonder at these who observes not God's hand into it: and +indeed we cannot but wonder that any can be so blind that they observe +not the very hand and finger of God in the work. Ay, we who have been +witnesses to it, for the most part, we cannot but wonder at the work of +God in it. It has not been man's wit has done the work, and multiply so, +but only God has done it; and we cannot tell how; but only we see that +there are numbers continually multiplied. + +I. "Thy people." Here is a note of property, and a note of distinction. +First, it is a note of property. They are God's people--God has absolute +right over a people, and there is none who has any right over them but +He alone. It's true all people are under Him, but He calls not all His +people after this manner. All things are for God, and subordinate to +Him; the absolute power to rule and to command these people is in God's +hand, and He will not give that power to any other over them: and He has +good reason so to do. 1. Because He was thinking upon His people from +all eternity; and there was none who did that but only He. 2. He made us +and fashioned us in time; and neither any authority or magistrate did +that. 3. Who is it that provides means for their sustenance daily, and +makes these means effectual, but only the Lord? A man cannot make one +pyle (blade) of grass, or one ear of corn, to grow for thy +entertainment, but only the Lord: and when thou hast gotten these +things, it is the blessing of God that makes them effectual. For when ye +say the grace to your meat, say ye it to man? No, ye say it only to God. +So that every way ye are God's people. And then, whilk is more, and +therefore we are bound to be His people, no man can redeem the life of +his brother, nor give a price sufficient for his life, let be (let +alone) for his soul, and yet the Lord, He has redeemed us from hell, and +from the grave; and therefore we belong to Him. Then is it not the Lord +who enters in covenant with thee, and says, I will remember thy sins no +more? Then albeit all the world should remember thy ill deeds, yet if +the Lord remember them not, then thou art blessed. It is He who says, I +will write My laws in your hearts, to lead you here: it is He who puts +us in the estate of grace while we are here, and so puts us in hope of +glory after this life. It is He who sall be our judge at that great day. +And so ye are the Lord's people, by way of property. + +And this was it that made the apostles so bold, when it was alleged +that they had done that whilk was not right: they made the enemies +themselves judges, and says, "Whether it be right in your sight to obey +God rather than man, judge ye." As if they had said, It's true indeed we +are mickle obliged to man, but we are more obliged to God than to all +men; for what is it that man can do to us, either good or ill, but God +can do that als (also) and more? And upon this ground, in the next +chapter, they draw this conclusion,--It behoveth us rather to obey God +than man. And so, first, they reason with the adversars themselves upon +it; and seeing that they could not deny it, upon that they draw up their +conclusion. I mark this for this end, that whenever ye are enjoined to +do anything by any man, that then ye would not forget this dignity and +power that God has over you, and that ye are the people of Jesus Christ; +and therefore no man ought to enjoin anything to be done by you, but +that for the whilk he has a warrant from God. There is a great +controversy now about disobedience to superiors, and the contempt of +those who are in authority; but there is not a word of that, whether God +be obeyed or not, or if He be disobeyed by any. Fy, that people should +sell themselves over to the slavery of man, when the Lord has only +sovereign power over them! I would not have you to think that a whole +country of people are appointed only to uphold the grandeur of five or +six men. No, they are ordained to be magistrates for your good. And sall +we think that a ministry shines into a land for the upholding of the +grandeur of some few persons. No, all these things are ordained for the +good of God's people; and, seeing that it is so, sall ye then make +yourselves like to asses and slaves, to be subject to all that men +pleases to impose upon you? No, no; try anything that they impose upon +you, before ye obey it, if it is warranted by God or not; because God is +the only superior over you. + +2. Secondly. "Thy people." This also is a note of distinction; for every +people are God's people, but there is a distinction among them. All +people, it's true, are God's people by right of creation: why therefore +says he, _Thy_ people, and not _all_ people? Because all people belong +not to Christ. God has authority over all indeed, but in a special +manner He enters into covenant with some. All people who are subject to +Him in His providence are not His peculiar people, His royal nation, His +holy priesthood, His chosen generation, but only those of them who +belong to Christ; those are properly termed to be His people. And we +should remember of this, that those who are the people of God, they have +notable privileges; they have all things that any people should have, +and, whatever we should be, they have that. Where any are the people of +God, there there is blessedness indeed, for they have His truth for +their security, they have His love for their comfort, His power for +their defence. The Lord God, He takes His people into His bosom, and +with every soul He does so, and says, "I the Lord thy God enters in +covenant with thee, and renews the covenant that before I made with +thee." And then He lays a necessity upon thee, by His providence, that +thou must enter into covenant with Him; and then He says to thee, "I +will not remember thy sins any more; I know they are heinous, great, and +many, but because thou desires that they should not be remembered, +therefore I will not remember them. And because when ye have renewed +your covenant with Me, ye will be aye in a fear to break it again, +therefore I will write My law in your hearts. And so whatever I promise +to you, I will perform it freely when ye are in covenant with Me; and +whatever ye promise to Me, being in covenant with Me, I sall perform it +for you also, at least I sall give you strength to perform it." And +therefore to the end that ye may be perfectly blessed, enter into a +covenant with God; and without ye be in covenant with Him, ye sall be +in nothing but perpetual misery. I would have all of you to think this +to be your only health, wealth, and peace, and your only glory in the +world, to be in covenant with God; and so that ye are the people of God, +I would not have you to count men to be rich and glorious men by their +estates in the world--that he can spend so many chalders of victual +yearly, or so many thousand merks. O, a silly, beggarly glory is this! +Naked thou came into the world, and naked thou must go out of it again. +But see how mickle thou has of the knowledge of Jesus Christ, how far +thou art forward in the work of repentance, faith, &c., and such good +actions. Learn to set your affections on things that are above, and +testify it by your actions. + +II. "In the day of Thy power." This is the time when the people of God +sall be willing, even in the day of His power; that is, in the day of +the power of Jesus Christ. The day of His own resurrection from the dead +was one day of His power: He says, "I have power to lay down My life, +and I have power to take it again;" "Destroy this temple, and I will +build it up again in three days;" He meant of the temple of His body: +and indeed there was none who could raise His dead body out of the +grave, but only Himself. A second day of His power sall be the day of +the resurrection of our bodies out of the dust. But there is another day +that is meant of here than any of these, and that is the day of our +first resurrection out of the grave of sin, by the preaching of the +gospel. And there is good reason for it, why this should be called a day +of His power. First, because it is the power of Jesus Christ that brings +the purity of the gospel into a land; and we may indeed say that it was +only His power that brought the gospel into this land. It had not +authority then to countenance it, for all those that were in authority +were against it; and counsel and policy, and all the clergy, and the +multitude, all of them, were against it; and yet, for all that, the +Lord brought in the purity of the gospel into this land, and established +it here against all these. Secondly, when the purity of the gospel is +into a land, it is only the power of God that makes it effectual for +turning of souls unto Himself, and raising them out of the grave of sin, +wherein they are so fast buried. So when the Lord first sends the +gospel, we are lying into the grave of sin; and the devil, and the +world, and all these enemies they are watching the grave, to see that we +rise not out of it; and when we are beginning to rise they are busy to +hold us down. And think not that we can rise, and lift up ourselves from +so base to so high ane estate, without the power of God. No, no. Third. +When the gospel is into a land, it is only the power of Jesus Christ +that makes it to continue, for if the Lord make not the gospel to +continue into a land, it will not stay there. And there is no less power +required either to bring the gospel into a land, or to make it +effectual, or to make it to continue, than was required to raise the +dead body of Christ out of the grave, or will be required to raise ours. + +I would have you consider here, that all times are not alike, but there +is a time of the Lord's power; that all days are not alike, but there is +a day of the Lord's power; a time when the saints of God sall be weak, a +time when they sall be strong; a time when some sall rise up to +persecute the saints, a time when others sall rise up to help them; a +time when the Lord withholds His power, and a time when He kythes (shews +it); a time when the people draws back from the Lord, and a time when +they turn to Him again. There has been a day of defection in this land +this time past, and now there is a time of the Lord's power in bringing +back this defection again: and indeed this very instant time that now is +is ane hour of that day of the Lord's power, and I will shew you two or +three reasons for it. 1. The Lord did arise and manifested His power +when the enemies were become insolent, and when they had determined that +they would set up such a mode of worship as they thought meet, and +noways according to the pattern shown upon the mount. And indeed the +Lord, He uses ordinarily to do this, that even when the enemies of His +people are become insolent, and they have determined that they will do +such a thing instantly, then He takes them in their own snare. 2. To +show that it is the Lord's power only that works a work, He uses to +begin at very small beginnings; and so the Lord did in this same +work;--He began at first with some few, and these not honourable, and +yet now He has made it to cover the whole land through all the quarters +thereof. 3. This is also a note of the power of God, that He has touched +the hearts of people, that there was never such a howling and a weeping +heard amongst them this long time as there is now; and yet it is not a +weeping for sorrow, but a weeping for joy. How oft has there been +preachings in the most part of the congregations of this land this long +time past, and yet people have never found the power of it in working +upon their hearts; and yet within this short space, when the Lord has +renewed His covenant with them, and they with Him, He has displayed His +banner, and made His power known in working upon the hearts of people. +4. In this the power of God is manifestly to be seen in this work, that +the Lord has made all the devices and plots of the adversars, that they +have devised to further their own ends, to work contrair to these ends, +and to work for the good of His own work. And, indeed, we may say that +it has not been so mickle the courage and wisdom of these, that has been +for this cause, that has brought it so far on, but the very plots and +devices of the adversars that they have devised for their own good. This +also is ane evident token of the Lord's power. + +And now since the Lord did arise when the enemies were become insolent, +since He began at so small beginnings and has brought it so far, since +the Lord has wrought so on the hearts of people now, and since He has +made all the plots of the enemies to work against themselves, and for +His people, let us give this glory to God, and reverence Him, and say +that it is only by His power that the work is done, and that He has been +pleased to manifest Himself into the work. Beloved, we may comfort +ourselves in this, if all this has been done by the power of God, then +we need not to fear the power of men; men can do nothing against God. +The Lord may indeed put His kirk to a trial, but He will not suffer her +to be overthrown by any. And indeed, any who hears and knows what the +enemies are doing here may see that they are not fighting against men, +but against God, and that they are kicking against the pricks. + +III. Now, for the properties of thir people. The first of them is +_willing_. The Lord's people are a people of willingness in the day of +His power: and indeed thir three go very well together, the people of +God, the power of God, and a willing people. When the power of God works +upon His people then He makes them to be a willing people. And indeed, +it is no small matter to see a people willing in a good cause, for by +nature we are unwilling, and naturally we are not set to affect anything +that is right, except it be through hypocrisy. Our hearts they are +contrary to God; they are proud, disobedient, rebellious, and he who +sees and knows his own heart sees all this to be in it; and he knows +that it is the Lord who cries upon him, in the day of His own power, and +frames his heart in a new mould, and makes it to be so nimble and +cheerful in any good work,--that albeit they had been before running +with all their speed to the devil, yet He makes them to stand still in +the way and look about them, and consider what they have been doing, and +then to turn about again. Albeit thou were like to Paul, persecuting the +Church, yet He can then make a preacher of thee, and so affright thee +that thou sall not know where thou art, but say, "Here am I, Lord:" and +albeit thou were as unwilling to go as the prophet Moses, yet He will +make thee to say, "Here am I, Lord, send me," and be as Elisha, when +Elias cuist (cast) his mantle about him, then he could not stay any +longer. And when Christ comes to Peter, and calls upon them, they cannot +stay any longer, but incontinent they leave all and follows Him. I will +not now begin to make any large discourse of the invincible power of +God; I say no more of it now but only this for your use. If ye kent this +power of God, it would make you ready and willing to give a confession +to Him this day, and even to confess Him before men, and to forsake all +and follow Him. Ye who are ignorant of the power of God, take heed to +this,--it is the Lord who commanded light to come out of darkness, who +must make you to see Christ; He who takes His rod in His hand to beat +down the hard and humble the haughty heart, He must do this also. O if +ye felt this power of God, ye would think nothing to forsake all and to +follow Him. He has suffered more for us nor we can suffer for Him; and +if we suffered anything for Him, He would not suffer any of us yet to be +a loser at His hand: but we cannot put Him to a trial. + +Now for this unwillingness of these people, it is well expressed here. +They are called a people of willingness. And yet He thinks not this +satisfactory, to call them a willing people, but He calls them a people +of willingness, a noble, generous, high-minded people. And all this is +to shew that when the people of God is wakened up in the day of His +power, there is none who is able to express their willingness. They are +so willing that if they had a thousand minds they would employ them all +for Him, and if they had a thousand faces, they would not let one of +them look down, but they would hold them all up for the Lord; if every +hair in their head were a man, they would employ them all in His +service. Their willingness, indeed, it cannot be expressed. They cry to +the Lord, because they think they cannot run fast enough, "Draw me and I +sail run after Thee:" they are flying together, as the dowes does to the +holes of the rocks before a tempest come. In the Canticles, Christ says, +"My soul made Me as the chariots of My noble people;" and, indeed, to +see a people running through the land, to meet together to keep +communion with the Lord, this is the best chariot that can be. And this +willingness has been so great at some times in the children of God that +they have fallen in a paroxysm, or like the fit of a fever, with it: as +it is Acts xvii. Paul's spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the City +of Athens given to so much base idolatry as to worship the UNKNOWN GOD. +And Lot, also, he had such a fit as this; he vexed his righteous soul +with the iniquities of Sodom, that is, he tortured his soul with their +sins, he never saw them committing sin but it was a grief to him. And, +indeed, the children of God this while past have been grieved and vexed +to behold the sins that has been committed into this same land. I insist +upon this the rather because I would wish from my heart that ye would be +thus willing, and that ye would be as forward for the glory and honour +of God as ever any was. And then, indeed, it should do good to others +also, when they should hear tell that the people of St. Andrews were +such a willing people. And, indeed, ye have just reason to be willing +now. + +1. Because it is God's cause ye have in hand, and it is no new cause to +us. It is almost sixty years old; it is no less since this same +Confession of Faith was first subscribed and sworn to. And it has been +still in use yearly to be subscribed and sworn to in some parts, among +some in this land, to this day. And I think it would have been so in all +the parts of the land if men had dreamed of what was coming upon us. +Whatever is added to it at this time, it is nothing but ane +interpretation of the former part; and if men will be willing to see the +right, they may see that there is nothing in the latter part but that +whilk may be deduced from the first. And in the making of a Covenant we +are not bound to keep only these same words that were before, but we +must renew it; and in the renewing thereof we must apply it to the +present time when it is renewed, as we have done, renewed it against the +present ills. For it is not necessar for us to abjure Turkism or +Paganism, because we are not in fear to be troubled with that; but the +thing that we are in danger of is Papistry, and therefore we must abjure +that. + +2. A second reason to make you willing is, because this matter concerns +you in all things,--in your bodies, in your estates, in your lives, your +liberties, in your souls. I may say, if in the Lord's providence this +course had not been taken, ye would have found the thraldom whereinto +that course, wherein ye were anes (once) going, would have brought you +to or (ere) now, even ye who are most averse from it. + +3. A third reason to make you willing is, ye have the precedency and +testimony of the nobility in the land to it, and of all sorts of +persons, noblemen, barons, gentlemen, burgesses, ministers, and commons; +and wherefore, then, should not ye be willing to follow their example? +And then, I may say, ye have the prayers of all the reformed kirks in +Europe for you, who have ever heard of the perturbations that has been, +and yet are, into this land. And, moreover, beloved, whom have ye +against you in this course? All the atheists, all the papists, and all +the profane rogues in the country; they draw to that side, and it is +only they who hate this cause. And should not all these make you willing +to swear to it, and to hazard for it? And I may say, if ye be but +willing to hazard all that ye have, that may be the heaviest distress +that ever ye shall be put to. And if so be that ye had been willing at +first, the Lord would have touched the king's heart, and made him +willing also; but because he is informed by some that the most part are +not willing, that is a great part of the cause why he is not willing. + +The second property of God's people is holiness. "In the beauties of +holiness;" a speech that is borrowed from the priest's garments under +the law. Sometimes they were broidered with gold, sometimes they were +all white, especially in the day of expiation. Not that ministers under +the New Testament should have such garments as these, for these were +representations to them, both of their inward holiness and of their +outward holiness, by (beyond) others; but now all believers are priests +as well as ministers are, and therefore such garments as these are not +necessar. Indeed, if such garments as these had been necessar, then +Christ and His apostles had done great wrong to themselves, who never +used the like; and they had done great wrong to the kirk also in not +appointing such garments to be worn by ministers. There be garments of +glory in heaven, and garments of grace in the earth; that party-coloured +garment spoken of in the Colossians, and this holiness whilk is spoken +of here. Concerning whilk we will mark two things:--First, as people are +a people of willingness in a good cause, so they must also be a people +of holiness, or otherwise their willingness is only but for some worldly +respects: therefore, I would have you with willingness to put on +holiness. And, indeed, if we saw what holiness were, we needed not to be +persuaded to put it on, we would do it willingly. For it has three parts +in it--1. A purgation from former filthiness. 2. A separation from the +world. If thou will be holy, then thou must be separate from the world; +thou must strive to keep thyself from those whose garments are spotted +with the flesh. 3. Holiness requires devotion or dedication to the Lord. +When there is purgation from filthiness, separation from the world, and +dedication to the Lord, there there is holiness and nowhere else. + +Now, is there any of you but ye are obleist (obliged) to be holy? Ye say +that ye are the people of the Lord. If so be, then ye must have your +inward man purged of sin, and ye must stand at the stave's end against +the corruptions of the time, and ye must devote yourselves only to serve +and honour God. And your Covenant, that ye are to swear to this day, +oblishes you to this; and it requires nothing of you but that whilk ye +are bound to perform. And, therefore, seeing this is required of you, +purge yourselves within, flee the corruptions of the time, eschew the +society of those whom ye see to be corrupt, and devote yourselves only +to the Lord. Yet this is not that we would obleish you to perform +everything punctually that the Lord requires of you; there is none who +can do that, but promise to the Lord to do so, tell Him that ye have a +desire to do so, and join a resolution and a purpose, and say to Him, +Lord, I sall prease (earnestly endeavour) to do als far as I can. And, +indeed, there is no more in our covenant but this, that we sall +endeavour to keep ourselves within the bounds of our Christian liberty; +and, albeit, none of you would swear to this, ye are bound to it by your +baptism. And, therefore, think not that we are precisians, (or these who +has set down this covenant), seeing all of you are bound to do it. + +Secondly, "The _beauties_ of holiness." Consider here that as holiness +is necessar for the saints of God, so all God's courtiers they are full +of beauty. God Himself is full of beauty, and we have no power, beauty +nor holiness but in His power, beauty, and holiness. Holiness, it is the +beauty of the Son of God, Jesus Christ; and to Him it is said in Esay, +"Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty": and the Holy Ghost has this style +to be called Holy. And the angels in heaven, they are clothed with +holiness; and the saints who are in heaven, this is the long white +robes wherewith they are clothed. And they who are begun to be +sanctified here, they strive to be more and more clad with holiness. +Beloved, I would have you to count this to be your beauty, even +holiness; for if ye have not this beauty, then all your other beauty +will degenerate in a bastard beauty. + +Now follows the marvellous _multiplication_ of thir people. "From the +womb of the morning thou hast the dew of thy youth." The words are +somewhat obscure even to the learned ear, but look to the 133d Psalm, +and there ye will see a place to help to clear them. Always (however) +observe here, "from the womb of the morning thou hast the dew of thy +youth," that as in a May morning, when there is no extremity of heat, +the dew falls so thick that all the fields are covered with it, and it +falls in such a secret manner that none sees it fall, so the Lord, in +the day of His power, He sall multiply His people, and He sall multiply +them in a secret manner; so that it is marvellous to the world, that +once there should seem to be so few or none of them, and then +incontinent He should make them to be through all estates. + +We have first to learn here, that the Kirk of God, she has a morning; +and in the morning the dew falls, and not in the night, nor in the heat +of the day. So it is not in the night of defection, nor in the heat of +the day of persecution, when the Lord's people are multiplied, but it is +in the morning of the day. Beloved, I wish you may be a discerning +people, to know the Lord's seasons. Sall we be as those, of whom our +Saviour complains, who can discern the face of the sky, but cannot +discern the day of the Lord's merciful and gracious visitation towards +them? Men indeed may be very learned and know things very well, and yet +in the meantime be but ignorant of this; for there are sundry gifts +bestowed upon men, and ilk are has not this gift, to discern the Lord's +merciful visitation. And therefore happy are ye, albeit ye be not great +in other gifts, if so be that ye know this; for the Lord, He has some +gifts of His own bestowing allanerly (only), whilk He will bestow upon +the meanest, and yet He will deny them to the proudest; even as the tops +of the mountains, they will be dry and have no dew, while as the valleys +will be wet with it. So those who exalts themselves high, and boasts +themselves of their other gifts, of their knowledge, learning, +experience, &c., the Lord will, for all that, ofttimes leave them void +of saving and sanctifying grace. + +"From the womb of the morning thou hast the dew of thy youth." That is, +as the dew is multiplied upon the earth, so sall thy people be. This is +are ordinar phrase in Scripture. Hushai says to Absalom, "Convene the +people from Dan to Beersheba, and then we sall light upon David as the +dew lighteth upon the ground; and then there sall not be left of him and +of all the men that are with him so much as one." And this phrase is +well set down, Is. liv., "Rejoice, O barren, and thou that didst not +bear, break forth into singing and cry aloud, thou that didst not +travail with child; for more are the children of the desolate than the +married wife." And therefore He uses this form of speech, v. 2, "Enlarge +thy tents, and let them stretch the curtains of thy habitations; +lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes." And all these things are +requisite to be done when the people of God are multiplied thus. + +Let us observe here, if the Word of God continue in this land, in the +purity thereof, and the sacraments be rightly administrate, the people +of God will then multiply exceedingly here. The chiefest city in this +land, they are forced to marvel where the people has been in former +times that are in it now, so that they cannot get kirks to contain them. +And they think, if the gospel continue in the purity thereof, all the +kirks that they are building, with the rest, sall have enough ado to +contain them. And it is a marvel to consider how the Lord has +multiplied His people, at this time. This is not that we are to glory in +multitudes, but to let you see the great work of God, Who has multiplied +His people thus. And as it was at the beginning of the plantation of the +Christian religion, there was three thousand converted at one preaching +of the apostle, I will not say that there has been three thousand +converted at a preaching here, but I may say this, that at one preaching +there has been some thousands wakened up, who had not been so for a long +time before. And will it not be a hard matter, seeing that it is so, +that Saint Andrews sall be as Gideon's fleece; that all the kingdom +about it sall be wet with the dew of heaven, and it sall only be dry? +Even so, will it not be a shame, that all others sall be stirred up, and +ye not a whit stirred up in this day more than if there were not such a +thing? And, therefore, beloved, I would have you to join yourselves with +the rest of the people of God in this cause. + +"Thy youth." That is, _thy young men_. Those that are renewed by grace +they are called young, albeit they were never so old, because their age +is not reckoned by their first, but by their second birth. Ay, moreover, +still the older that the children of God grow in years, and the weaker +in the world, they grow younger and stronger in grace. Secondly, they +are called young, because of the strength that they have to resist +temptations. Before they be renewed by grace and born again that way, +they are like bairns, that every temptation prevails with them; but then +they are as young men, who are able to resist temptations to sin, so +that sin gets not liberty to exercise dominion over them. Thirdly, they +are called young, because they will contend with all their power and +might for the faith. I would have all of you to be young in these +respects, and labour to get ane evidence of your new birth by these, +that ye are growing in grace, gaining still more strength to resist +temptations, and by contending earnestly for the faith; even be bold in +this, especially in contending for the truth. Strive for the truth, for, +if ye anes lose it, ye will not get it so easily again. And this same is +the covenant of truth whilk ye are to swear to; for as our Covenant is +renewed, so also it is exponed (explained) according as the exigencies +of the time requires, and it is applied to the present purpose. + +Beloved, I told you already that ye have no cause of fear, for I avow +and attest here before God, that what ye do is not against authority, +but for authority, let some men who are wickedly disposed say what they +will; but what ye do is for authority. And I told you of the obligations +whereby authority are bound to this. And for the words of it, because +they are conceived in a terrible manner, ye need not to stand in awe for +this; and it were good that ye should read them over again, and think +upon this wrath of God whilk we pray for to come upon us, if we do +intend anything against authority. + +_Objection._ We have oblished ourselves by our subscription already; +what then needs us to obleish ourselves over again by our oath? _Ans._ +It's true, I grant, many of you has subscribed it already, and so ye are +bound; but now ye are to swear also, that so through abundance of bands +to God ye may know yourselves to be the more bound to Him. David says, I +have purposed, I have promised, I have sworn, and I sall perform Thy +righteous statutes. There be also here sundry Acts of Parliament, that +are all of them made within this same kingdom for the maintainance of +the true religion; and for thir, they speak for themselves. And I would +have these who say we do anything against law and against our superiors, +to see and try if there be anything against them, and not all directly +for them. + +Beloved, I hope that it will not be necessar for us to spend mickle time +with you in removing of scruples. Good things I know has over many +objections against them from the devil, the world, and our own ill +hearts. And I know some of them who are accounted the learnedst in the +land, have assayed their wits and used their pens to object against +this. But truly these who are judicious, they have confessed that they +have been greatly confirmed by that whilk they have objected; and the +reason of it was, because they who were the most learned assayed +themselves to see what they could say, and yet when all was done, they +had nothing to say that was worth the hearing. + +For the first part of this Confession of faith, there is not a word +changed in it; and if so be that men had keeped that part of it free of +sinistrous glosses, and had applied it according to the meaning of those +who were the penners thereof, there needed not to have such a thing ado +as there is now; but because they have put sinistrous glosses upon it +now and misapplied it, therefore it behoved to be explained and applied +to the present time. + +The first thing that ye swear to is, That with your whole hearts ye +agree and resolve, all the days of your life, constantly to adhere unto +and defend the true religion. There is no scruple here. 2. That ye +suspend and forbear the practice of all novations already introduced in +the matters of the worship of God, or approbation of the corruptions of +the public government of the kirk, or civil places and power of kirkmen, +till they be tried and allowed in free assemblies and in parliaments. +Now, I know there be some who make scruples here. How can we, say they, +bind ourselves to forbear the practice of that whilk Acts of Assembly +allows, and Acts of Parliament commands? _Ans._ We do not herein condemn +the Act as altogether unlawful, whatever our judgment be of it, but this +is all what we do. Because such ills has followed upon these novations, +therefore we think it meet now to forbear the practice of them till they +be tried by Assembly and Parliament. + +And this is not a breach of the Act, when all is done. Because the Act +is not set down in the manner of a command, but only as a counsel; for +so the Act of the pretended Assembly bears. The words is, "The Assemblie +thinks good," &c., "because all memory of superstition is now past, +therefore we may kneel at the communion." Then, if there be any danger +of superstition, by the very words of the Act we may gather this, that +we should not kneel: and so they who practice now keep the letter of the +Act, but they who forbear keep the meaning thereof more nearly than the +practisers. 3. We promise and swear against the Service-book, Book of +Canons, and High Commission, with all other innovations and ills +contained in our Supplications, Complaints, and Protestations. Now for +the Service-book, I find every one almost to be so inclined willingly to +quite (be done with) it. But let me attest your own consciences, if it +had gone on for a while, and been read among you, as it was begun to be, +if it had not been as hard for you to have quat it as to quit the +Articles of Perth; and therefore, do not deceive yourselves, to let such +things be practised any more. It is a pitiful thing, that those who are +wise otherways should deceive themselves in the matters of God's service +and worship, and suffer others to deceive them also. 4. Ye promise and +swear, to the uttermost of your power to stand to the defence of the +king's majesty, in the defence and preservation of true religion: as +also, every one of you to the mutual defence of another in the same +cause. Now there be a number who says, that in this we come under +rebellion against the king, and we join in a combination against him, +when we join ourselves thus, every one for the defence of another. I say +no more of it but this. It is not disputed here, ye see, whether it be +lawful for subjects to take up arms against their prince or not, whether +in offence or defence; but that we will maintain the true religion, and +resist all contrary corruptions, according to our vocation. And every +one of us oblishes ourselves for the defence of another, only in +maintaining the cause of true religion, according to the laws and +liberties of this kingdom. And indeed, this is very reasonable to be +done, albeit not asked of; for when your neighbour's house is burning, +ye will not run to the king to speir (ask) if ye should help him or not, +before it come to your own; but ye will incontinent put to your hand, +both to help him, and to save your own house. Ye may not say, neither, +that because we may not oppose against authority, that we may not oppose +against Papists or against Prelates; for that were to make ourselves +slaves to men. And the very law of nature binds every one of us to help +another, in a lawful manner, for a good cause. 5. Ye swear, because ye +cannot look for a blessing from God upon your proceedings, except that +with your confession and subscription ye join such a life as becomes +Christians who has renewed their covenant with God,--therefore ye +promise to endeavour at least, for yourselves and all that are under +you, to keep yourselves within the bounds of your Christian liberty, and +to be good ensamples to others in all godliness, soberness, and +righteousness, and of every duty we owe both to God and man. And there +is none who needs to skarre (be frightened) at this; for we are not +hereby to tie any to the obedience of the law, but to the obedience of +the Gospel: and I am sure all are bound at least to please to (strive +after) this. And therefore I would have you to labour to it; and when ye +find that ye cannot get it done, then run to Christ, and beseech Him to +teach you to do it; and to give you strength, according to His promise +made in His new covenant; and so ye sail give glory to God and get good +to your own souls. And, indeed, all of you are obleist to amend your +lives, and to live otherwise than ye have done. And last of all, there +is the _Attestation_. + +Now, I hope all these things be so clear to you, that there is not any +scruple in any of your minds. And therefore, that this work may be done +aright, and may be accompanied by the power of God, I would have all of +you to bow your knees before that great and dreadful Lord, and beseech +Him that He would send down the Holy Ghost, and the power of His Spirit, +to accompany the work, that so ye may do it with all your hearts, to His +glory and honour, and to your comfort in Jesus Christ. + + + + +THE NATIONAL COVENANT: + +EXHORTATION AT INVERNESS. + +_BY ANDREW CANT._[3] + + +Long ago our gracious God was pleased to visit this nation with the +light of His glorious Gospel, by planting a vineyard in, and making His +glory to arise upon Scotland. A wonder! that so great a God should shine +on so base a soil! Nature hath been a stepmother to us in comparison of +those who live under a hotter climate, as in a land like Goshen, or a +garden like Eden. But the Lord looks not as man: His grace is most free, +whereby it often pleaseth Him to compense what is wanting in nature: +whence upon Scotland (a dark obscure island, inferior to many) the Lord +did arise, and discovered the tops of the mountains with such a clear +light, that in God's gracious dispensation, it is inferior to none. How +far other nations outstripped her in naturals, as far did she out-go +them in spirituals. Her pomp less, her purity more: they had more of +antichrist than she, she more of Christ than they: in their reformation +something of the beast was reserved; in ours, not so much as a hoof. +When the Lord's ark was set up among them, Dagon fell, and his neck +brake, yet his stump was left; but with us, stump and all was cast into +the brook Kidron. Hence king James his doxology in face of parliament, +thanking God who made him king in such a kirk that was far beyond +England (they having but an ill-said mass in English) yea, beyond Geneva +itself; for holy-days (one of the beast's marks) are in part there +retained, which (said he) to day are with us quite abolished. Thus to a +people sitting in darkness, and in the shadow of death, light is sprung +up. Thus, in a manner, the stone that the builders refused is become the +head of the corner. The Lord's Anointed (to whom the ends of the earth +were given for a possession and inheritance) came and took up house +amongst us, strongly established on two pillars, Jachin and Boaz, and +well ordered with the staves of beauty and bands, and borrowing nothing +from the border of Rome. Her foundation, walls, doors, and windows were +all adorned with carbuncles, sapphires, emeralds, chrysolites, and +precious stones out of the Lord's own treasure. God Himself sat with His +beauty and ornaments therein, so that it was the praise and admiration +of the whole earth. Strangers and home-bred persons wondered. Such was +the glory, perfection, order, and unity of this house, that the altar of +Damascus could have no peace, the Canaanite no rest, heresy no hatching, +schism no footing, Diotrephes no incoming, the papists no couching, and +Jezebel no fairding. Our church looked forth as the morning, fair as the +moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners. Then God's +tabernacle was amiable, His glory filled the sanctuary, the clear fresh +streams watered the city of our God; the stoutest humbled themselves, +and were afraid. If an idiot entered the Lord's courts, so great power +sounded from Barnabas and Boanerges, the sons of consolation and +thunder, that they were forced to fall down on their face, and cry, +"This is Bethel, God is here." + +But alas! Satan envied our happiness, brake our ranks, poisoned our +fountains, mudded and defiled our streams; and while the watchmen slept, +the wicked one sowed his tares: whence these divers years bygone, for +ministerial authority, we had lordly supremacy and pomp; for beauty, +fairding; for simplicity, whorish buskings; for sincerity, mixtures; for +zeal, a Laodicean temper; for doctrines, men's precepts; for wholesome +fruits, a medley of rites; for feeders we had fleecers; for pastors, +wolves and impostors; for builders of Jerusalem, rebuilders of Jericho; +for unity, rents; for progress, defection. Truth is fallen in the +streets, our dignity is gone, our credit lost, our crown is fallen from +our heads; our reputation is turned to imputation: before God and man we +justly deserve the censure of the degenerate vine; a backsliding people, +an apostate perjured nation, by our breaking a blessed covenant so +solemnly sworn. + +Yet, behold! when this should have been our doom, when all was almost +gone, when we were down the hill, when the pit's mouth was opened, and +we were at the falling in, and at the very shaking hands with Rome; the +Lord, strong and gracious, pitied us, looked on us, and cried, saying, +"Return, return, ye backsliding people; come, and I will heal your +backslidings." The Lord hath been so saving, and the cry so quickening, +that almost all of all ranks, from all quarters and corners, are +awakened and on foot, meeting and answering the Lord, saying, "Behold we +come unto Thee, for Thou art the Lord our God, other lords besides Thee +have had dominion over us, but by Thee only will we make mention of Thy +name." All are wondering at the turn, and looking like them that dream, +and are singing and saying, "Blessed be the Lord who hath not given us +for a prey to their teeth; our souls are escaped as a bird out of the +snare of the fowler, the snare is broken, and we are escaped: our help +is in the name of the Lord who made the heaven and the earth." Who +thought to have seen such a sudden change in Scotland, when all second +causes were posting a contrary course? when proud men were boasting and +saying, "Bow down that we may go over;" and we laid our "bodies as the +ground, and as the streets to them that went over." But now, behold one +of God's wonders! So many of all ranks taking the honour and cause of +Christ to heart; all unanimously, harmoniously and legally conjoined as +one man in supplications, protestations and declarations against +innovations and innovators, corruptions and corrupters. Behold and +wonder! That old covenant (once and again solemnly sworn and +perfidiously violated) is now again happily renewed, with such +solemnity, harmony, oaths and subscriptions, that I dare say, this hath +been more real and true in thee, O Scotland, these few weeks bygone, +than for the space of thirty years before. I know Pashurs that went to +smite Jeremiahs, are become at this work Magor-missabib, terror round +about; Zedekiahs that went to smite Micaiahs, seek now an inner chamber +to hide themselves. Tobiah and Sanballat gnaw their tongues, laugh and +despise us, saying, "What is this ye do? Will ye rebel against the king? +Will ye fortify yourselves? Will ye make an end in a day? Will ye remove +the stones out of the heaps of rubbish that is burnt?" Rehum the +chancellor, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions, cease +not to fill the ears of a gracious prince with prejudice, saying, "Be it +known to thee, O king, if this city be built, and the walls thereof set +up again, that they will not pay toll, tribute or custom." But to these +we answer, "Let the king live, and let all his enemies be confounded, +let all that seek his damnation be put to shame here and henceforth: but +as for you, ye are strangers, meddle not with the joy of God's people; +ye have no portion, right, nor memorial in God's Jerusalem." If the +begun work vex them, it is no wonder; it does prognosticate the ruin of +their kingdom, and that Haman, who hath begun to fall before the seed +of the Jews, shall fall totally: the Lord is about to prune His +vineyard, and to drive out the foxes that eat the tender grapes; to +pluck up bastard plants, and to whip buyers and sellers out of the +temple. The Lord is about to strike the Gehazis with leprosy, and to +bring low the Simon Maguses who were so high lifted up by Satan's +ministry. The Lord is calling the great ones to put too their shoulder, +and help His work; He hath been in the south, saying, "Keep not back," +and blessed be God, they have not. He hath now sent to the north, +saying, "Give up, bring My sons from afar, and My daughters from the +ends of the earth:" contend for the faith once delivered to Scotland. + +There is one Lord, one faith, one cause that concerns all. Though this +north climate be cold, I hope your hearts are not, at least they should +not be. The earth is the Lord's and its fulness, the world and they that +dwell therein; the uttermost parts of the earth are given to Christ for +a possession; His dominion is from sea to sea, and from the river to the +ends of the earth. Come then, and kiss the Son; count it your greatest +honour to honour Christ, and to lend His fallen truths a lift; come and +help to build the old wastes, that ye may be called the repairers of the +breach; and then shall all generations call you blessed; then shall God +build up your houses, as He did to the Egyptian midwives, for their +fearing God, and for their friendship to His people Israel. Be not like +the nobles of Tekoa, of whom Nehemiah complained, that they would not +put their necks to the work of the Lord. Be not like Meroz, whom the +angel of the Lord cursed bitterly, for not coming to the help of the +Lord against the mighty. Neither be ye like these mockers and scorners, +at the renewing of the Lord's covenant in Hezekiah's days, but rather +like those whose hearts the Lord humbled and moved. Be not like those +invited to the king's supper, who refused to come, and had miserable +excuses, and therefore should not taste of it. We hope better things of +you; God hath reserved and advanced you for a better time and use: but +if ye draw back, keep silence, and hold your peace, God shall bring +deliverance and enlargement to His church another way; but God save you +from the sequel. Nothing is craved of you but what is for God and the +king; for Christ's honour, and the kirk's good, and the kingdom's peace. +God give to your hearts courage, wisdom and resolution for God and the +king, and for Christ and His truths. _Amen._ + + + + +THE NATIONAL COVENANT + +SERMON AT GLASGOW.[4] + +_By ANDREW CANT._ + +"The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, who made a marriage +for his son: and he sent forth his servants to call them that were +bidden to the wedding; and they would not come," etc.--_Matt._ xxii. 2, +3, 4, 5, 6. + + +I purpose not to handle this parable punctually, because it stands not +with the nature of a parable, neither will the time suffer me so to do. + +The parable runs upon an evident declaration and clear manifestation of +God's sweetest mercies, in offering the marriage of His Son, His own +Son, His well-beloved Son, the Son of His love, the Son of His bosom, +the Son as good as the Father, the Son as great and as glorious as the +Father, the Son whose generation none can declare. The Father offers +this His Son in marriage: 1. To the Jews, as you have in the first seven +verses of the parable. 2. To the Gentiles, in the rest of the parable. + +1. To the Jews, not because of their worthiness; "But even so, O Father, +for so it seemed good in Thy sight." This offer was the effect of no +merit, neither of congruity nor of condignity in the Jews; for they were +like that wretched and menstruous infant, Ezek. xvi. 3, 4, unswaddled, +unwashen, uncleansed, "lying in its blood, its navel not cut, nor +salted at all, nor swaddled at all, cast out in the open field, having +no eye to pity it." + +2. As for the Gentiles, ye may see what case they were in, if ye read +this same parable, Luke xiv. 20. "Go ye out into the streets and lanes +of the city, and call the poor, the lame, blind and maimed," etc. Some +were cripple, some poor and blind, and withered, and miserable, and +naked, and leper, unworthy to come to our Lord's gates, let be to have +them opened wide to us; unworthy to be set down at His table, let be to +be admitted to His royal marriage feast, and to get Christ our Lord to +be our match, and to be the food and cheer of our souls: and therefore +let all souls, let all pulpits, let all schools, let all universities, +let all men, let all women, let all Christians cry, grace, grace, grace, +praise, praise, praise, blessing, blessing, for evermore to the Lord's +free grace. Fy, fy, upon the man; fy, fy, upon the woman, that is an +enemy to the Lord's free grace. The fullest, and the fairest, and the +freest thing in heaven or earth is the free grace of God, to our poor +souls: "Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy name be the +glory." + +At another occasion I handled the parable after a more general manner, +and propounded these points unto you: 1. Who was this great king? 2. Who +was the Son of this great king? + +1. This great King is God Himself, "the King of kings, and Lord of +lords." Then for the Lord's sake, stand in awe of Him, love Him and fear +Him. And I charge you all here before that great and dreadful Lord, that +ye humble yourselves under His mighty hand, and that ye prostrate and +submit yourselves under His almighty hand, and come away as ye promised. +Kiss the Son, and embrace Him, and then shall wrath be holden off you; +and a shower of God's mercy shall come down upon you. Then the King is +God. + +2. The King's Son is Christ. Then there follows a dinner, "I have +prepared my dinner." Yea, I have a supper also, for Luke says, He +"prepared a great supper." I told you in what respects it is great. 1. I +told you it was great in respect of the author of it, God. 2. I told you +it was great in respect of the matter of it. Ye know the matter of it, +as holy Scripture tells. Whiles it gets base, silly, simple names, and +is delineated and expressed under common terms: but the most common term +it gets is so considerable that our case would not be good if it were +wanting. Whiles 'tis called "a feast of fat things full of marrow, of +wine on the lees well refined." Whiles it is called "gold." Whiles it is +called "fatlings, and a fatted and fed calf." Whiles 'tis "honey and +milk." Whiles it is called "oil and wine." Whiles it is called the +"bread of life." In a word, to tell you what this feast is, it is this +Christ and all His saving graces freely given to thy soul. Then, 3. It +is great in respect of the manner of its preparation: I confess, this +feast, though prepared in silver, is often administered in earthen +vessels, and clay dishes: and, though it be mingled with butter and +honey, yet this makes the natural man, when he looks upon it, not to +think much of it, because he looks on the outside of it only. But would +to God your eyes were opened to see the inside of it, and not to be like +proud Naaman, who said, "What better is this water of Jordan than the +water of Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus?" As some say, What +better is this feast than the feast we have at home? As the man of God +prayed for his servant, "Lord, open his eyes that he may see;" and the +Lord opened his eyes, and he saw another sight, even the mountain full +of horses and flaming chariots of fire; so, I pray the Lord open all +your eyes, that ye may see the many differences between this feast and +all other feasts; for other feasts are but feasts for the body, and they +are but feasts for the belly; an Esau may have them, a reprobate may +feed upon them. These are nothing else but the swine's husks, whereon +the prodigal fed for a time, and scarce could get them; but when he came +back again to his father's house, then he fed upon the fatted calf; and +then he got a feast, and then was there plenty, then did his well run +over, then was his cup to the brim, and overflowing. O that ye knew your +Father's house, and the fatness, the fulness, the feast, and the plenty +that are there, ye would all hunger after it, and would then say, alas! +I have been feeding on husks too long, "now will I arise and go to my +father's house, where there is bread enough." All the Lord's steps drop +plenty and fatness. 4. I told you that this supper is a great feast in +respect of the great number that are called unto it. The poorest thing +in all the land is called unto it: the Jews are called, the Gentiles are +called, yea the poorest thing that is hearing me is called; such as a +great man would not look on, but he would close the gates on such an +one; a great man would not deign himself to look on them in his kitchen; +yet come ye away to this feast, the King of kings has His house open, +and His gates patent, He has a ready feast, and a room house, and fair +open gates, and every body shall be welcome that will come. "Whosoever +thirsts; let him come, and take of the water of life freely." And now +through all the nooks and corners of this kingdom of Scotland, Christ is +sending out His servants, and I am sent out unto you this day, crying +unto you, "Come away, His oxen and fatlings are killed, His wine is +drawn, and His table furnished, and all things ready." 5. I told you it +was a great feast, in respect of the place where it is kept. There are +two dining-rooms:--(1) A dining-room above. (2) A dining-room below. A +dining-room above, that is a high dining-room, that is a fair house, +that is a trim place. O the rivers of the Lord's consolations that run +there: I confess, in this lower dining-room of the church, the waters +come first to the ankles, then to the mid-leg, then to the knees, then +to the thigh, and then past wading; but then shall ye get fulness, when +ye come up to that dining-room. And when ye come there, there shall be +no more hunger, no more thirst, there shall be no more scant nor want, +nor any more sour sauce in your feasts, neither any more sadness, nor +sorrowful days; but eat your fill, and drink your fill. And many shall +come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the +south, and shall sit down at the royal and rare covered table, with +Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and get their fill to their hungered--"When I +awake (says David) I shall be filled with Thy likeness." Poor soul, thou +canst never get thy fill; I wish to God thou got a sop and a drop to set +thee by till then. Indeed, if thou hadst a vessel, thou shouldst get thy +fair fill even in this life. And I dare say, if thou wouldst seek, and +seek on, and seek instantly, the Lord would one day or other make thee +drink of the new wine of the gospel; He would give thee a draught, a +fair draught, a fill, a fair fill of the wine of His consolation, He +would make you suck the milk at the breasts of His consolation; but He +will aye keep the best wine hindmost, as He did at the marriage of Cana. +Therefore, poor thing, lift up thy head, and gather thy heart; ere it be +long thou shalt get a draught of the best wine in thy Father's house, +where there are many mansions, and many dwelling-places. "I go (says +Christ) to prepare a place for you:" and He will come again, and receive +you to Himself, where ye shall drink abundantly of the new wine of the +gospel. _Lastly_, This supper is a great one in respect of the +continuance of it; it lasts not for one day, but for ever; it lasts not +for a hundred and four-score days, but for ever, and evermore. Poor +thing, who possibly gets some blyth morning blinks in upon thy soul, and +possibly gets a taste of this cup in the morning, and long ere even thou +art hungering and thirsting again, and thou wots not where to meet thy +Lord, and all the thing thou hast gotten is forgotten; in the day that +He shall come, then thou shalt feast constantly and continually in thy +Father's house, where thou shalt never want thy arms full, thou shalt +never want thy Lord out of thy sight, neither shall thy Lord ever want +thee, but He shall ever be with thee, and thou with Him; thou shalt +follow the Lamb whithersoever He goes. + +"Behold I have prepared my dinner." All this feast was for a marriage; +and here is a wonder, a world's wonder, a behold, which notes divers +things: 1. Behold it for an admiration. 2. Behold it for an excitation. +3. Behold it for consolation. 4. Behold it for instruction. Behold, and +be awakened; behold, and be excited; behold, and be comforted; behold, +and admire; behold, and wonder, that the King of heaven's Son will marry +your soul! Then behold, and come away to your own marriage; behold, lost +man shall get a Saviour, behold, the King's Son will be a Saviour to a +slave; behold, the King's Son will drink the potion, and the sick shall +get health; behold, the King's Son will marry Himself upon thee! "I will +marry thee unto Me in faith and in righteousness." "Thou that was a +widow and reproached," like a poor widow that has many foes, but few +friends; yet, says the Lord, "Thou shalt not remember the reproach of +thy widow-hood any more." Then behold, and come away to the marriage. +Now, "Who are these that are invited to the marriage?" I told you, 1. +The Jews are invited. 2. The Gentiles are invited; yea, you are invited; +I thank the bridegroom you are invited; I shall bear witness of it, when +I am gone from you, you are invited. And I thank the Lord, I have more +to bear witness of; yea, that which comforts my soul, by all appearance +the greatest part of you are come in, and by all good appearance ye have +the wedding garment. I hope God has a people among you; this I shall +bear witness of, when I am gone from among you; the greatest part has +lent an ear; the Lord bear it in upon your hearts with His own blessed +preference. + +1. "He sent His servants forth." He gives many a cry Himself, and many a +shout Himself. Is not that one of God's cries, "Come unto Me, all ye +that are weary and laden, and I will ease you." O but that is a sweet +word, thou art a weary thing, with a sore load of sin upon the neck of +thy soul, and thou art like to sink under it, and art crying, what will +come of thee? He is bidding thee come away, and get a drink of the +marriage-wine to cheer thy fainting spirit; and if thou be weary, He +shall ease thee. + +_Object._ Alas! Sin hinders me, that I cannot come; sin is so black and +ugly upon me, and so heavy, that I cannot come. _Ans._ "Come (says the +Lord) I will reason with you," that is, I will have your faults +discovered, and I will have you convicted of your faults; but when I +have reasoned with you, will I cast you away? Nay, but though your sins +were red as "crimson, they shall be made white as snow or wool." + +_Object._ 2. Alas! but my sins are many, how can the Lord look upon me +or pardon me? _Ans._ "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the +unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, for He +will abundantly pardon; for My ways are not your ways, neither My +thoughts your thoughts; but as the heaven is high above the earth, so +are My thoughts, (in pardoning) higher nor yours" (in sinning). Come +away, poor thing, then, and get thy heart full of mercy; and because +such a fair offer is hard to be laid hold on, therefore He goes to the +market-cross, like an herald with a great O yes, that all men there may +be awakened. It is not little that will awaken sleeping sinners, +therefore He puts too an O yes. "Ho, come every one that thirsteth, buy +wine and milk without money, and without price. Why do ye spend your +money for nought?" Ye have spent your strength too long in vain; ye have +been feeding on husks too long; ye have forsaken mercy and embraced +vanity too long. Come away, and He "will make an everlasting covenant +with you, even the sure mercies of David." + +2. "He sent forth His servants." This is a great wonder, that He calls +on His servants, and sends them to them; this is wonderful! He stood not +on compliments, who should be first in the play: ye would never have +sought Him, if He had not sought you; ye would never have loved Him, if +He had not loved you with the love of Christ. I would say a comfortable +word to a poor soul; is there any soul in this house this day, that has +chosen the Lord for the love and delight of his soul? Thou wouldst never +have chosen Him, if that loving and gracious God had not chosen thee. Is +there any soul in this house this day, that is filled with the love of +Christ? Thou wouldst never have loved Him if He had not loved thee +first. Is there any soul that is seeking unto Him in earnest? Be +comforted, He is seeking thee, and hast found thee, and gart thee seek +Him. I might produce scripture for all these, but the points are plain. + +3. Lo, a greater wonder! "He sent forth His servants." Ye would think, +if any had wronged you, it were their part to seek you, and not yours to +seek them; or if any baser than another had done a wrong, it beseemed +him to be the most careful to take pains, and seek to him whom he had +wronged. But behold here a wonder! The great God seeking base man! the +offended God seeking offending man! And is this because He has need of +you? Nay, canst thou be a party for Him? Canst thou hold the field +against Him? Nay, "Shall the thing formed say to Him that formed it, Why +hast Thou made me thus?" Shall the crawling worm and the pickle of small +dust fight against the King of kings? Art thou able to stand out against +Him, or pitch any field against Him? Nay, I tell thee, O man, there is +not a pickle of hair in thy head, but if God arise in anger, He can +cause it seem a devil unto thee, and every nail of thy fingers, to be a +torment of hell against thee. O Lord of hosts, and King of kings, who +can stand out against Thee? And yet thou hast offended Him, and run away +from Him, and miskent Him, and transgressed all His commandments, and +hell, and wrath, and judgment is thy portion which thou deservest, and +yet the Lord is sending out His servants, to see if they can make an +agreement. Then, for God's sake, think on this wonder: for all this text +is full of wonders, all God's works are indeed full of wonders, but this +is the wonder of wonders. We then are God's ambassadors, I beseech you +to be reconciled to God. Should not ye have sought unto Him first, with +ropes about your necks, with sackcloth upon your loins, and with tears +in your eyes? Should not ye have lain at His door, and scraped, if ye +could not knock? And yet the Lord hath sent me to you, and our faithful +men about here, crying, Come away to the marriage: Come away, I will +renew My contract with you; I will not give you a bill of divorcement, +but I will give My Son to you; and your souls that are black and blae, I +will make them beautiful. Behold yet another wonder! When He has sent +out other servants, and they got a nay-say; yet He will not take a +nay-say. Ye know a good neighbour, when he has prepared a dinner for +another of his neighbours, sends out his servants, intimating that all +things are ready, the table is covered, and dishes set on; if once +warned, he refuses, he might well send once or twice to him, but at last +he would take a displeasure, and not send again: but behold a wonder! He +sends out His servants, in the plural number. But behold a great wonder! +After one servant is abused, He sends out others, and when they are +slain, and spitefully used by these who should have followed their call, +and come in; what does the Lord? Read the chapter before, and ye shall +see a great wonder; "He sent out His own SON:" when Moses cannot do it, +when the prophets cannot do it, when John the Baptist cannot do it; +well, says the Lord, I will see if My Son can do it; I have not a Son +but one, and that is the Son of My love, and I will make Him a man, and +send Him down among them, and see how they will treat Him: and when He +comes, they cry out, "There is the heir, let us kill him." But behold a +greater wonder! That after these servants are abused, and spitefully +handled; and after the Son Himself is come, and has drunken of the same +cup, after He has died a shameful death, and after they had put their +hands on the heir; yet, when all is done, the Lord sends servants upon +servants, preachers upon preachers, apostles upon apostles to call in +the people of the Jews, to see if they will marry His Son. Then behold +and wonder at all these wonders! and let all knees bow down before God. +Lord stamp your hearts with this word of God: God grant you could be +kind to Him, as He has been kind to you, and testified the same, by +putting salve to your soul, and bringing it into the wedding. + +"He sent forth His servants." We may learn from this, that we who are +the brethren in the ministry must be servants, and not lords. I wish at +my heart, that we knew what we are, and that we knew our calling, and +what we have gotten in trust; for we serve the best Master in the world; +but I'll tell you He is the strictest Master that can be. I'll tell +thee, O minister, and I speak it to thee with reverence, and I speak it +to myself, There is a day coming, when thou must answer to God for what +thou has got in charge, thou must answer to God for all the talents thou +hast got, whether ten or two; for all have not got alike. But, dear +brethren, happy is the man, if he had but one talent, that puts it out +for his Lord's use; and Lord be thanked, that He will seek no more of +me than He has given me. There are many things to discourage a faithful +minister; but yet this may encourage us, that we serve the best Master, +and that is a sure recompence of reward that is abiding us. Indeed He +has not sent us out to seek ourselves, or to get gain to ourselves, He +has not sent us out to woo a bride to ourselves, or to woo home the lord +to our own bosom only: but He has sent us to woo a bride, and to deck +and trim a spouse for our Lord and Master. And ye that are ministers of +Glasgow ye shall all be challenged upon this; whether or not ye have +laboured to woo and trim a bride for your Lord: but I know that you will +be careful to present your flocks as a chaste spouse to Him. And we also +that are ministers in landwart, we are sent out for this errand, it +matters not what part of the world we be in, if we do our Master's +service; and the day is coming when thou must answer to God for thy +parish, whether thou hast laboured to present it as a chaste spouse to +Christ. It may gar the soul of the faithful minister leap for joy, when +he remembers the day of His Majesty's faithful meeting and his, when he +shall give up his accounts, and then it shall be seen who has employed +his talent well: then shall He say, "Well done, good and faithful +servant, thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee +ruler over many things; enter thou into thy Master's joy." Or rather +"Let thy Master's joy enter into thee, and take and fill thy soul with +it." Many a sad heart has a faithful watchman; but there is a day coming +when he shall get a joyful heart. But for whom especially is this joy +reserved? It is even for those "who convert many to righteousness; they +shall shine like the stars in the firmament, in the kingdom of their +Father." It is plain this belongs not to thee, O faithless watchman. +What hast thou been doing? Busking a bride for thyself? Busking a bride +for the Pope of Rome, the bishop of Rome, even for antichrist? becking +and bingeing to this table and that altar, bringing in the tapistry of +antichristian hangings, and endeavouring to set the crown on another +man's head, nor Christ's? But thou that wilt not set on the crown on His +head, and labour to hold it on, thou O preacher, the vengeance of God +shall come upon thee, the blood of souls shall be upon thee. Many a +kirk-man eats blood, and drinks blood; Lord deliver our souls from +blood-guiltiness. Dear brethren, let us repent, let us repent: I trow we +have been all in the wrong to the Bridegroom; shame shall be upon thee +that thinks shame to repent. I charge you all, before the timber and +stones of this house, and before that same day-light that ye behold, and +that under no less pain nor the loss of the salvation of your souls, +that ye wrong not the Bridegroom nor his bride any more. But we come to +our point: + +We are servants and not lords. I see never a word in this text, nay, nor +in all the scripture that the Master of the feast sent out lords to woo +home his bride; He "sent out His servants," but not His lords. Read all +the Bible from the beginning to the ending, you shall not find it. Daft +men may dispute, and by respect may carry it away; but read all the Old +and New Testament both, and let me see if ever this lord prelate, or +that lord bishop, was sent to woo home his bride. + +_Object._ 1. We have our prerogative from Aaron, from Moses, from the +apostles, from Timothy. _Ans._ I trow ye be like bastard bairns that can +find no father. So they shall never be able to get a father, for man has +set them up, and man is their father. + +_Object._ 2. Find we not the name of bishop under the New Testament? +_Ans._ Yes; but not the bishop of a diocese, such as my Lord Glasgow, +and my Lord St. Andrew's; but we find a pastor or a bishop over a flock. +It is a wonderful matter to me, that men should think to reason this +way; for in the Old Testament there is not an office, nor an +office-bearer, but is distinctly determined in the making of the +tabernacle; there is not a tackle, nor the quantity of it, not a +curtain, nor the colour thereof, not a snuffer, nor a candlestick, nor a +besom that sweeps away the filth, nor an ash-pan that keepeth the ashes, +but all are particularly set down; yet, ye will not get a bishop, nor an +archbishop, nor this metropolitan, nor that great and cathedral man, no +not within all the Bible. The Lord pity them; for indeed I think them +objects of pity, rather than of malice. Christ is a perfect king, and a +perfect prophet. Thou canst never own Him to be a perfect priest and +king, that denies Him to be perfect prophet; and a perfect prophet He +can never be, except He has set down all the offices and office-bearers +requisite for the government of His house; but so has He done, therefore +is He perfect. + +_Obj._ 3. But they will call themselves servants. _Ans._ 1. The fox may +catch a while the sheep, and the Pope may call himself _servus +servorum_, the servant of servants: and they will call themselves +brethren, when they write to us; but they will take it very highly and +hardly, if we call them brethren, when we write back to them again: but +men shall be known by their fruits, and by their works, to be what they +are, and not what they call themselves. But if they will be called +servants and yet remain lords, let them take heed that they be not such +servants, as cursed Canaan was, "a servant of servants shall he be." +Take heed that they be not serving men's wrath and vengeance, and not +servants "by the grace of God, and by the mercy of God," as they style +themselves. 2. Let them take heed that they be not such servants as +Gehazi was; he was a false servant, he ran away after the courtier +Naaman, seeking gifts, and said his master sent him, when (God knows) +his master sent him not; at the time he should have been praying to the +Lord, to help his poor kirk and comfort her; the curse and vengeance of +God came upon him, and he was stricken with leprosy for his pains; such +servants are these men who now sit down on their cathedral nests, +labouring to make themselves great like Gehazi: let them take heed that +their hinder end be not like his. 3. Let them take heed that they be not +such servants as Ziba was to Mephibosheth, who not only took away what +was his by right, but also went to the king with ill tales of poor +cripple Mephibosheth: such servants are these who not only rob the +church of her privileges and liberties, but also run up to the king with +lies and ill tales of poor Mephibosheth, the cripple kirk of Scotland. +4. Let them take heed that they be not such servants as Judas was, an +evil servant indeed; he sold his Master for gain, as ill servants do. Or +like these that strike the bairns when they are not doing any fault: and +they are ill servants who busk their master's spouse with antichrist's +busking. Wo unto them, and the man who is the head of their kirk, whose +cross and trumpery they would put on the Lord's chaste spouse. But if +they will call themselves servants, and yet remain lords, let them take +heed that they be not of this category that I have reckoned up. The Lord +make us faithful servants, and the Lord rid His house of them. + +Time will not suffer me to go through the rest of the text, only I will +take a glance of some things which make for your use at this time. + +_Quest._ How are their servants treated? _Ans._ Some of them get +_nolumus_ upon the back of their bill: some of them are beaten, and +spitefully used and slain. Dear hearts, know ye not how Moses was used? +how Aaron and Jeremiah, &c., were used? how Zechariah was slain between +the porch and the altar? how Jeremiah was smitten; and he that did it, +got his name changed into Magor Missabib, _terror round about_? Know ye +not that Zedekiah struck Micaiah; and how his threatenings against him +came to pass? Always we may learn from this, that the Lord's best +servants have been, and will be abused, and spitefully used? This is a +great sin lying upon Scotland, England and Ireland. Many faithful +servants in the three kingdoms have been spitefully used; their cheeks +burnt, their noses ript up, their faces marked; some of them put into a +stinking prison, where they had not an hour's health, and many of them +rugged from their flocks, and their flocks from them. Look over to the +kingdom of Ireland, the many desolate congregations that are there; many +a dear one there, that would have had a blyth soul, to have had your +last Sunday, or seen it, or to have assurance of such a day before they +come into Heaven. Pray for the peace of Zion, and pity those poor things +who would be content to go from one sea-bank to the other, to be in your +place to-day. And truly the blood of these poor things is crying for +vengeance to light where it should light; for the blame lies upon none +but the proud prelates. If I would pose you with this question, as you +will answer to God, Who have been the instruments of all this mischief? +I am sure the most ignorant among you can answer, None but the proud +beasts the prelates. The Lord give them repentance. + +I know not how you have handled your pastors in this town, because I am +but a stranger; but trow ye that two silly men that came among you can +do any thing, if your own pastors had not laid the foundations: but, for +God's sake, honour and respect your pastors, I mean those of them that +keep the covenant of Levi. And ye that have broken it, and will not come +to renew it again, shame and dishonour will be upon you for evermore. I +have my message from the 2nd of Malachi, "I will pour contempt upon them +who have broken the covenant of Levi." Therefore let pastors and people +enter both within this covenant; for it is the sweetest thing in the +world, to see pastors and a people going one way. Therefore come away +all of you unto the wedding, come and subscribe the contract, put your +heart and hand to it. Blessed be God for what already ye have done. + +Some of the servants got a nay-say, and some of them were beaten; hence +we learn, that every minister will not be beaten, nor will get the +stroke to keep; but if a minister get a nay-say, it will make him as sad +as if he had gotten sore strokes. If a minister get a nay-say that has +been travailing these many years in the ministry, and yet cannot get one +soul brought unto the Lord, that will make him as sad as sore strokes +will do. When an honest minister has laboured many years painfully in +the sweat of his brows, and has never had another tune, but, Come away, +come away unto the marriage; and when he walks among them, and sees +never one coming in, nor never one that has on the wedding garment, what +will be the complaint of the poor man? O then he will cry out with +Isaiah, "Lord, who believes my report, and to whom has the arm of the +Lord been made naked? Lord, I have laboured in vain, and spent my +strength for nought." What will come of me, after so many years' travail +in the ministry? I have not brought forth one child. The Lord forbid +that ye our people break your ministers' hearts. And as for you, +brethren, be more watchful over your flocks, be more busy in catechising +and exhorting them. And urge the duty of the covenant upon them, and +when they are on foot, hold them going; lead them to the fountain and +cock-eye. Lead them to the well-spring; and make meikle of them; feed +the Lord's lambs, as Christ said to Peter, "If thou lovest Me, feed My +sheep; lovest thou Me? I say, feed My sheep." Minister, lovest thou me? +feed my bais'd sheep: lovest thou me? feed my lambs. You must be +feeders, and not fleecers; pastors, but not wolves; builders, but not +destroyers; and come away, and help up the broken-down wall of +Jerusalem. For if one of you can bring timber here, another bring +mortar, a third bring stones, and make up a slap in Zion; and I hope we +that came here shall go home with blyth news to our congregations, that +we cannot say we have got a cold welcome; so I hope ye will think it +your greatest comfort, and your greatest credit also. Venture in +covenant with God, and whosoever thou be, that wilt not enter in +covenant, we will have thy name, and we will pour out our complaints +before God for thee; for we that are ministers must be faithful to our +Master; and I take you all to witness, that we have discharged our +commission faithfully; and I hope the blessing of the Lord shall be upon +them that have given us an invitation of this kind: and it may be your +greatest comfort, that now ye may go homely unto the Lord, being +formerly in covenant with Him; and your greatest credit also, for ye +never got such a credit, as to lend your Master's honour a lift. We come +to the excuses. + +"But they went their way, one to his farm, and another to his +merchandise." Luke is more large in this, and saith, "I have bought a +piece of ground, and must needs go see it;" another said, "I have bought +five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them;" and the third said, "I have +married a wife and therefore I cannot come." 1. We learn here, that +never a man refuses Christ but from some by-respects, such as a farm, +oxen, and marriage. I never saw a man staying back from the covenant, +but from some by-respects; either some respect to the world, or to men, +or to the court, or such bastard by-respects to some statesmen, or to a +prelate, or to the King himself, who, we trust, ere it be long, shall +think them the honestest men that came in soonest; therefore cast away +all by-respects. The apostle John includes their excuses under three +different expressions, "The pride of life," including the farm; "The +lust of the heart," including the merchandise; and "The lust of the +flesh," including the marriage. Therefore let every soul that would love +and follow Christ, deny himself, and lay aside excuses. Deny thy own +wit, will, and vanities, and lay aside all by-respects, and I shall +warrand thou shalt come running, and get Christ in thy arms. 2. Is it a +respect to prelacy that hinders thee, O Scotland? cursed be the day that +ever they were born. 3. Is it a respect to the novations already come +into Scotland? I may say cursed be these brats of Babel. It had been +best to have rent them at the beginning, for many woful days have they +brought on, and woful divisions have they brought in, and woful +backslidings have they occasioned. Therefore away with these +by-respects. 4. Is it a respect to the king? The Lord bless our king. +Says not the covenant enough for the maintenance of the king? As for the +word which they call combinations, it reserves always the honour of God, +and the honour of the king; protesting, that we mind nothing that may +tend to the diminution of the king's greatness and authority. Yea, I +know no other means under heaven to make many loyal subjects, but by +renewing our covenant. + +I would have had the men that made these excuses framing them another +way; I would have had him that married the wife, saying, My wife has +married me; and he that bought his oxen, saying, My oxen have bought me; +and he that went to his farm, saying, My farm has bought me. And if ye +will mark the words, ye will find them run this way. 1. Marriage is +lawful; but when a man beasts himself in his carnal pleasures, then the +wife marries the man; "therefore let them that have wives, be as though +they had them not, and them that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not." +2. Buying of farms is lawful, but when a man becomes a slave to his own +gain, it takes away the soul of him, the farm buys the man; likewise +husbandry is lawful, but when a man yokes his neck under the world, it +trails and turmoils him so, that he cannot take on the yoke of Jesus. 3. +Thus also the merchandise buys the man. Then, for Jesus Christ's sake, +cast away all excuses, and come away now, and marry Christ. 1. Away with +thy bastard pleasures. 2. Away with thy bastard cares, and come away to +Christ, and He shall season all thy cares. 3. Away with thy falsehood, +thy pride, vanity, &c. Away with thy corn, wine and oil, and come to +Christ, and He shall lift up His countenance upon thee. The Lord give +thee a blink of that, and then thou wilt come hopping with all thy +speed, like unto old Jacob, when he saw the angels ascending and +descending, then he ran fast, albeit he was tired, and had got a hard +bed, and a far harder bolster the night before, yet he got a glorious +sight, and his legs were soupled with consolation, which made him run. +Lord blink upon thy lazy soul with His amiable countenance, and then +thou shalt rise and run, and thy fainting heart will receive strength, +when the Lord puts in His hand by the key-hole of the door, and leaves +drops of myrrh behind Him, then a sleepy bride will rise and seek her +Beloved. But to our point. + +Marriage is lawful, merchandise is lawful, husbandry is lawful, but +never one of these is lawful when they hinder thee from the Lord. +Neither credit, pleasure, preferment, houses nor lands are lawful, when +they hinder thee from the Lord's sweet presence. Jerome said well, +"Though my old father were hanging about my neck, and my sweet mother +had me in her arms, and all my dear children were sticking about me, yet +when my Lord Jesus called upon me, I would cast off my old father, and +throw my sweet mother under foot, and throw away all my dear children, +and run away to my Lord Jesus." Lord grant, my beloved, that what ye +have heard of Christ may sink in your souls: and when ye have seen poor +things running here and there, to get a prayer here, and a prayer there, +and ye wonder what they are seeking, they are seeking their Beloved; and +if ye ask, "What is their Beloved more than another?" They will answer, +my Beloved is the fairest and trimmest, and the highest and honourablest +in the world; He has the sweetest eyes, the sweetest cheeks, the +sweetest lips, and trimmest legs and arms, "yea He is altogether +lovely;" and then they will be made to cry out, "O thou fairest among +women, tell us whither is thy Beloved gone, that we may seek Him with +thee?" O if we knew Him! Lord work upon you the knowledge of Him. O what +a business would you make to be at Him! Lord grant that our ministry may +leave a stamp upon your hearts. Then had we gotten a rich purchase. +Would to God ye were like that marquis in Italy, who fled from thence to +Geneva, being persecuted by the Jesuits; and when they followed him, and +offered him sums of gold, he answered, "Let those perish forever who +part with an hour's fellowship with Christ, for all the gold under +heaven." And sundry of the martyrs being at the stake, having this and +that offered to them, they had still this word, None but Christ, none +but Christ: and when they were bidden, Have mind of your well favoured +wife, and your poor children; they answered, "If I had all the money and +gold in the world, I would give it to stay with my wife and poor +children, if it were but in a stinking prison; but sweet Christ is +dearer unto me than all." Then cast away all excuse. Would to God we +were like that woman, when going to the stake; "I have borne many +children, (says she) and yet notwithstanding of all these pains, I would +suffer them all over again, for one hour's fellowship with my Lord." +Then come away, come away, cast away all excuses, come away; as the +Saviour says, "The storm is past and over, the winter is away, the time +of singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our +land; arise, my fair one, and come away." God be thanked, there is a sad +winter over Scotland's head, and our figs are blossoming, and our trees +are budding, and bringing forth fruit, now is the turtle singing, and +his voice is heard in our land: now is Christ's voice heard, now is our +Bridegroom standing waiting on our way-coming; and here am I in His +name, crying unto you, Come away: here am I to honour my Master: all +honour be to Him for ever and ever. Come away then, for the winter is +going, the summer is approaching, our vines are blossoming, in token of +a fair summer: arise, arise, and come away. + +Ver. 9. "Go ye, therefore, out to the highways:" as if He would say, +Well, I see the Jews will not come in; "therefore go your ways and fetch +in the Gentiles." Yet I hope in God, there shall many of the Jews come +in shortly. They spake for you, when ye could not speak for yourselves; +they said, "We have a little sister, and she has no breasts; what shall +we do for her in the day she shall be spoken for?" Now pray ye for them. +Always they refused to come in, as ye heard; and not being worthy, they +would not come to Him, to make them worthy.--Always, says the Lord, go +out, and call in the Gentiles to My table, My Son may not want a wife: +He is too great a king to want a spouse, and My supper is too good cheer +to be lost; therefore go and fetch in the Gentiles. I thank the Lord +that ye are come in. I know not a town in the kingdom of Scotland that +is not come in, except one, and I am afraid for the wrath of God to +light on that shortly. Always God hath His own time. But trow ye, that +God will give that honour to every one? Nay. I protest in my own silly +judgment (howbeit I cannot scance upon kings crowns) that it were the +greatest honour that ever king Charles got, to subscribe the covenant. +But trow ye that every minister and every burgh will come in? Nay: if +you will read the history, 2 Chron. xxx. 10, you will see the contrary; +when Hezekiah was going to renew the covenant, and to keep the passover, +the holy text says, that numbers mocked, and thought themselves over +jelly to come in; but those whose hearts the Lord had touched, they came +in and kept the blyth day. Indeed I was afraid once, that Christ would +have left old Scotland, and gone to new Scotland, and that He would +have left old England, and gone to new England: and think ye not but He +can easily do this? Has He not a famous church in America, where He may +go? Indeed I know not a kingdom in all the world, but if their plots had +gone on, they had been at antichrist's shore ere now; but all his limbs +and liths, I hope shall be broken, and then shall our Lord be great: +therefore come away in with your wedding garment, and ye that have not +put it on, now put it on, and come away to the marriage: and I thank the +Lord, that ye are prevailed with, by God's assisting of our faithful +brethren to bring you in; the Lord grant that ye may come in with your +wedding garment. It is but a small matter for you to hold up your hand; +and yet, I suspect, some of you when it was in doing took a back-side. I +tell you that it is no matter of sport, to board with God: therefore +come away with your wedding garment; for the Master of the feast sees +you, and knows all that are come to the marriage feast. I know you not, +but my Master knows you every one: He knows who came in on Sabbath and +who came in yesterday, and who will come in to-day, and who are going to +put on their wedding garment, and cast away their duds. Away with your +duds of pride, your duds of greed and of malice; away with all these +duds, and be like the poor blind man in the gospel, who when he knew +that Christ called him, he cast his old cloak from him, and came away; +so do ye, cast aside all excuses, and come to the wedding. And now with +a word of the wedding garment I will end. + +This wedding garment consists of three pieces: 1. There is one piece of +it looks to God, and that is holiness. 2. There is another piece of it +looks to ourselves, and that is sobriety. 3. Another piece of it looks +to our neighbour, and that is righteousness. + +The first is holiness; I charge you to put it on: ye that are the +provost and bailies, I love you dearly, and all the members of the +town; gentlemen, and all gentlewomen, and all of you I love you dearly; +and therefore I charge you all before God, in my last farewell unto you, +to be holy, according as ye have sworn in your covenant. + +2. Be sober. Howbeit I be a stranger, yet I like brotherly love and +Christian fellowship well; but drunkenness and gluttony, feasting and +carousing I hate, especially now when the kirk of Scotland is going in +dool-weed: therefore be sober. 1. Be sober in your apparel; I think +there is too much of gaudy apparel among you. 2. Be sober in your +conceits. 3. Be sober in your judgments. 4. Be sober in your +self-conceiting. 5. Be sober in your speaking. 6. Be sober in your +sleeping. 7. Be sober in your lawful recreations. 8. Be sober in your +lawful pleasures: and finally be sober in all respects; that it may be +seen ye are the people that have renewed your covenant. + +3. Be righteous. I know not if ye have false weights and balances among +you; but whether there be or not, I give you all charge, who have sworn +the covenant, to be righteous. + +In a word, this wedding garment is Jesus Christ; "Put ye on the Lord +Jesus Christ." I cannot give you a better counsel nor Christ gave to +Martha; forget the many things, and choose that one thing which is +needful; and with David, still desire that one thing, "To behold the +beauty of the Lord in His temple;" and with Paul, "Forget the things +that are behind, and press forward to the prize of the high-calling +thro' Jesus Christ." The Lord fill your hearts with the love of Christ. + +If thou askest, What will this garment do to thee? I answer, This +garment serves, 1. For necessity. 2. For ornament. 3. For distinction. + +1. For necessity. And this is threefold. 1. To cover thy nakedness, and +hide thy shame. 2. To defend thy body from the cold of winter, and heat +of summer. 3. For necessity, to hold in the life of the body. So put on +Jesus Christ this wedding garment; and, 1. He shall cover the shame of +thy nakedness with the white linen of His righteousness. 2. He shall +defend thee when the wind of trial begins to blow rough and hard, and +when the blast of the terrible One is arising, to rain fire and +brimstone upon the world; "Then He shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in +the day time from the heat, and a place of refuge for a covert from +storm and from rain." "A refuge from the storm, and shadow from the +heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the +wall." When men are pursuing, He shall be a brazen wall about thee; and +when they pursue thee, He shall keep thee in His bosom. + +2. A garment is for an ornament. Who is the best favoured body; and the +trimmest soul? Even the poor soul that has put on the bridegroom Jesus: +that soul is fair and white, and altogether lovely, "There is no spot in +it," because the Lord hath put upon it, "Broidered work, bracelets and +ornaments." + +3. A garment is for distinction. There must be a distinction among you, +between you and the wicked world, because ye have renewed your covenant +with God: and this distinction must not only be outwardly (for an +hypocrite may seem indeed very fair) but it must be by inward +application. I desire you all that are hearing me, not only to put it +on, but to hold it on: put it on, and hold it on; for it is not like +another garment, neither in matter, nor shape, nor in use, nor in +durance. I may not insist to handle it, but it is not like other +garments, especially it is not like a bridegroom's garment, which he has +on to-day, and off to-morrow. Therefore I charge you all your days, to +hold it on. Ay, that which ye had on upon Sabbath last, and yesterday, +and which you have on this day, see that ye cast it not off to-morrow. +What heard you cried on Sabbath last, and yesterday, and this day? +Hosanna, hosanna. And wherefore cried ye yesterday and this day, +Hosanna, hosanna? Look that when we are away, and your ministers not +preaching to you, that ye cry not, "Crucify Him, crucify Him." I fear +that many who last Sabbath, yesterday and this day, have been crying +Hosanna, hosanna, shall, long ere the next Sabbath, cry, "Crucify Him, +and hang Him up." But I charge you, O sons of Zion, and ye daughters of +Jerusalem, that your tongues never cease in crying, Hosanna, till Christ +come and dwell in your soul. + +Ye that are masters of this college, if ye count me worthy to speak to +you, I would have you keep your garments clean, and take heed that ye be +not spotted with uncovenanted spots. Ye that are scholars, take heed +what sort of learning and traditions ye drink in, and hold your garments +clean. We hear of too many colleges in the land, that are spotted; but +we hope in God that ye are yet clean: and young and old of you, take all +heed to your garments, that they be white, and clean, and beautiful. + +For the Lord's sake, all ye that are hearing me, take heed to your +garments, but especially ye that have subscribed your covenant, take +heed to your garments; for blyth will your adversaries be, to see any +spot on them. And therefore, for the Lord's sake, study to be holy; +otherwise papists will rejoice at it, and the weak will stumble at it: +and so ye will wound and bore the sweet side of Christ. And therefore +put on your wedding garment, hold it on, and hold it clean; walk wisely +and before the world. + +Now I commend you to Him Who is able to strengthen, stablish and settle +you: to Him be glory, honour and dominion, for ever and ever. Amen. + + + + +[Illustration: Fac-simile of old Title page of following Sermon.] + +_The Evil and Danger of_ Prelacy. + +A + +SERMON + +PREACHED AT A + +GENERAL MEETING, + +IN THE + +_Black-Fryar-Church_ of _Edinburgh_, + +Upon the 13th Day of _June_, 1638, + +AT + +The Beginning of our last Reformation from _Prelacy_, after the +Renovation of the National Covenant. + +By the Reverand Mr. Andrew Cant, sometime Minister of the Gospel at +Aberdeen. + +1 Peter v 3, _Neither as being Lords over God's Heritage: but being +examples to the Flock._ + +GLASGOW, +Printed for George Paton, Book-seller in _Linlithgow_. MDCCXLI. + + +SERMON AT EDINBURGH.[5] + +_BY ANDREW CANT._ + +"Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou +shalt become a plain, and he shall bring forth the head-stone +thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it." + +--_Zech._ iv. 7. + + +I perceive that God will have His temple built, which had been long +neglected; partly by the worldliness of the people, who had greater care +of their own houses, than of the house of God; as appears by the prophet +Haggai, chap. i. 3,4. He reproves them for this fault, that they cared +more for their own houses than for the house of God; partly, because of +the great impediments and difficulties they apprehended in the work. Yet +God, having a purpose to have it builded, sends His prophets to stir +them up to the building of it. As for impediments He promises to remove +them all, and assures them of this by Haggai and Zechariah; yea, He +shews to Zerubbabel and the people, that although impediments were as +mountains, yet they should be removed. + +I need not stand upon introductions and connections: this verse I have +read, shows the scope of the prophet; viz. God will have His work going +on, and all impediments removed. These times require that I should +rather insist upon application to the present work of reformation in +hand, than to stand upon the temple of Jerusalem, which we know well +enough was a type of Christ's kirk, which in this land was once built, +but now hath been defaced by the enemies of Christ: we have long +neglected the re-edifying of it; partly, men being given more to build +their own houses, nor the house of Christ; and partly, because of the +great impediments that have discouraged God's people to meddle with it. +Now, it hath pleased God to stir up prophets, noblemen, and people of +the land, to put their hands to this work. And I think God saith to you +in this text, "Who art thou, O great mountain? thou shalt become a +plain." + +There are two parts in this text; 1. An impediment removed, under the +name of a mountain, "Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel, +thou shalt become a plain." 2. In the second part of the text, the work +goeth up, and is finished, the impediment being removed, "He shall bring +forth the head-stone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace be +unto it." + +But that ye may take up all that is to be said in order and method; +there are six steps in the text, three in the mountain, impeding the +work, and three in the work itself. The three in the mountain are these; +1. It is a mountain seen, "O great mountain!" 2. A mountain reproved, +"Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel." 3. A mountain +removed, "Thou shalt become a plain." The three in the work are; 1. A +work growing and going up. 2. A work finished, "He shall bring forth the +head-stone thereof." 3. A work praised, "He shall bring forth the +head-stone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace be unto it." I +shall speak of all these, God willing, and apply them to the time. + +As for the three in the mountain. 1. It is a mountain seen; it is +called a _great mountain_; under this are comprehended all impediments +and difficulties impeding the building; all being taken together make up +a great mountain, which is unpassable; the enemies who impede this work +were this mountain: look and ye will see the adversaries of Judah become +a great mountain in the way of that work. + +That ye may take up this mountain the better, I find that kings are +called mountains in Scripture; and good kings are so called, for these +three, 1. For their sublimity; as mountains are high above the valleys, +so are kings lifted up in majesty above their subjects: some apply that +place to kings, "Hear ye, O mountains, the Lord's controversy, and ye +strong foundations of the earth." 2. They are called mountains for their +strength to guard their people. David saith, "God hath made my mountain +strong." 3. Good kings are called mountains, by reason of their +influence for peace to the people: "The mountains shall bring peace to +the people, and the little hills by righteousness." I find also, that +the strong enemies of the church are called mountains, because of the +great impediments to the kirk's building that are made by them, as ye +may see in Psalm cxliv. + +This mountain (that I may speak more plainly) is Prelacy, which hath +ever been the mountain in the way of our reformation. It may be, some of +you that hear me, are not of my judgment concerning episcopacy; for my +judgment, I ever condemned it, as having no warrant for it to be in +Christ's house; yet I am sure, that all of you that are here this day, +will agree with me in this, that prelacy being antichristian, is +intolerable: but such is the prelacy of this kirk, it is antichristian. +I may easily prove, that amongst many marks of antichrist, these two are +most evident, false doctrine and tyranny in government: where antichrist +is, there is tyrannical government, imposing laws upon the consciences +of God's people; where antichrist is, there is idolatry, superstition +and error; these two are clearly in our prelacy: their idolatry, +superstition, and error may be seen in their service-book, their tyranny +may be seen in their book of canons. I think there are none here, but +they may see this mountain: no greater tyranny hath ever been used by +antichrist, than hath been used by our prelates, and exercised upon this +kirk. + +This mountain being seen by you all; I would have you take a view of the +quality of it. I find in Scripture, that the enemies of the kirk being +called mountains, are so called, because of these three qualities: the +first is in Psalm lxxvi. 4. they are called "mountains of prey;" so +called, because from them the robbers rush down to the vallies, and prey +upon the passengers. The second is in Jer. li. 25, Babylon, a great +enemy to God's kirk, is called a "destroying mountain;" the word in its +own language, is called a _pestiferous_ mountain, (so called) because +the pest destroys. The third is in Isa. ii. 14, they are called +"mountains of pride;" compared with the twelfth verse, you will find +these mountains called "mountains of pride." + +Our mountain of prelacy hath all these three bad qualities: 1. It is a +mountain from which they have, like robbers, made a prey of the kirk of +Christ. Tell me, I pray you, and I appeal to your own consciences, who +are my brethren, if there be any privilege or liberty that ever Christ +gave us, but they have taken it from us, and made a prey of it. 2. This +mountain is a pestiferous mountain; it hath been the mountain that hath +been as a pest, to infect the kirk of Christ with superstition, heresy +and error; and withal, it hath been a destroying mountain; for they have +destroyed the fair carved work of our first reformation. 3. They are +mountains of pride; for greater pride cannot be, than there is upon this +mountain; they rule as tyrants over their brethren, and as lords over +God's inheritance. + +Ye that are noblemen are the natural mountains of this kingdom, +descended of noble predecessors who have been as mountains indeed, +defending both kirk and commonwealth. These men were but low vallies, +and now are artificial mountains, made up by the art of man; at first, +as low as their brethren sitting there; but piece and piece, they have +mounted up; at first, commissioners for the kirk, and then obtained vote +in parliament, and then they usurped all the liberties of the kirk +benefices, and then constant moderators to make up this mountain; and at +last, the high commission is given to make the mountain strong; it is +like to Daniel's tree. "The tree grew, and was strong;" and from it, we +that are ministers of Christ have our wreck. + +And let me speak to you noblemen, these artificial and stooted mountains +have over-topped you who are the natural mountains; and if they have not +done so, What means the great seal then? and if way could have made for +it, they should have carried the white wand and privy-seal also: and +this is just with God, that they have over-topped you; for every one of +you came with your own shovel-ful, to make up this mountain. It was +thought expedient to rear up this mountain, to command and bear down +poor ministers. Albeit, it is true, we have been borne down by them; yet +ye that are the high mountains, have not been free from their hurt: it +is very like to Jotham's parable, "The trees of the forest will have a +king over them; they come to the olive-tree, and say, Be thou king over +us: the olive saith, I will not leave my fatness to be king: they came +to the fig-tree, and said, Be thou our king; the fig-tree saith, I will +not leave my sweetness to be king: they come likewise to the vine, and +say, Be thou our king; the vine saith, I will not leave my strength to +be king: they come to the bramble and said, Be thou our king; then said +the bramble to the trees, If indeed ye anoint me king over you, then +come and put your trust under my shadow; and if not, let fire come +forth of the bramble, and devour the tall cedars of Lebanon." The +olive-trees of the ministry would not leave the fatness of God's grace, +wherewith they were endued, to rule over the kirk: the fig-trees of the +ministry would not leave the sweet fruits of their ministry, to bear +rule in the kirk: the vines of the ministry would not leave the strong +consolations of God, whereby many souls were comforted, to bear rule in +the kirk: yet the brambles have taken this, and ye helped to exalt them, +upon condition to trust under their shadow; and if fire hath not come +forth from these brambles upon the tall cedars of this land, I leave to +your own thoughts to judge. Always this is the mountain which ye see all +reared up this day, and standing in the way of our reformation. + +2. The second thing in this great mountain is this, It is a mountain +reproved: "Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel." When he +saith of Zerubbabel, it is not only meant of Zerubbabel, but of the rest +of God's people. There, Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the rest of God's people +obeyed the voice of the Lord; and in the 14th verse, all these are said +to work in the house of the Lord: so under Zerubbabel, all the rest of +the people are comprehended; even so in this work of ours, all that are +joined to this work, for the building of this work, are to be accounted +workers; and for them also is this mountain reproved, "Who art thou, O +great mountain?" Who art thou, who will impede this work, or shall be +able to impede it, seeing God will have it forward. It is impossible for +thee to impede it, in these three respects: 1. In respect of the work +itself. 2. In respect of the workers. 3. In respect of the impeders. + +1. In respect of the work itself. It is God's work; for the house is +His, and He is in it. The Lord saith, "Be thou strong, Zerubbabel, and +Joshua, and the remnant of the people and work, for I am with you, saith +the Lord of hosts." If God be with a work, who is he that will let or +impede it? God is with this work of reformation, as ye yourselves can +witness; and by all our expectations this mountain is shaken, and (God +be praised) the difficulties are not so unpassable as they were. + +2. No man is able to impede this work, in respect of the workers. It is +said, "that God stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel, and of Joshua, and +of the people, and they came and wrought in the house of the Lord." When +God stirs up men to do a good work, nothing on earth can stay it: I am +sure if ever God stirred up men to a good work, He hath stirred us up to +this, both noblemen, ministers and people. Wherefore, "Who art thou, O +great mountain" before God's people, that thinks to impede such a work? + +3. In respect of the impeders: what are they but men, and wicked men, as +ye may see in the adversaries of the Jews. Who are they that impede our +work? Even men that seek honour and preferment of this world, enemies to +religion, fighting against God; to whom, I may say that word in Job, +"Who hath hardened himself against God, and prospered?" With one word +more I will reprove this mountain, and go forward. + +"Who art thou, O great mountain?" Wilt thou search thyself who thou art: +art thou of God's building or not? I trow you are not _juris divini_, +but _humani_; God nor Christ hath never built thee: thou art only a hill +of man's erecting; knowest thou not that Zion, against which thou art, +is a hill of God's building. I will say to you then that word, "The hill +of God is a high hill, as the hill of Bashan: why leap ye, ye hills? +This is the hill that God desireth to dwell in; yea, and will dwell in +it forever." And think ye to prevail against the people of Zion? She +hath stronger mountains to guard her than ye have, "As the mountains are +round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about His people, from +henceforth and forever." + +3. The third thing in this mountain, is, It is a mountain removed, +"Thou shalt become a plain;" that is, God shall remove all impediments +before Zerubbabel, and his people; God is able to remove all that +impedes His work; even the mightiest enemies that oppose themselves to +the work of God. Ye may observe a fourfold power of God against these +mountains. + +1. A _determining power_, whereby He sets such bounds to the greatest +mountains, that ye see they fall not upon the vallies, albeit they +overtop them. The Lord hath set bounds to the great kings in the world +which they could not pass, when they have set themselves against the +Lord's people. We may see an example of this in Sennacherib. "Therefore +thus saith the Lord concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come up +to this city, nor shoot an arrow against it, nor come before it with +shield, nor cast a bank against it." Ye are afraid of the king, that he +come against you: fear not, the Lord by His restraining power is able to +keep him back, that he shall not shoot so much as a bullet against this +city. + +2. God removes impediments by His _assisting power_, as He promised to +do before Cyrus. "I will go before thee, and make the crooked places +straight; I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder +the iron bars." Albeit for any thing we see, there be brazen gates, and +iron bars, closing out a reformation: yet let not this discourage you; +God is with you by His assisting power to go before you, to make all +crooked places straight, and to break the brazen gates, and to cut in +sunder the iron bars. + +3. God hath a _changing power_, whereby He makes mountains plain: how +easy is it with God, to make the highest mountain that impedes His work +a plain? "The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of +waters, to turn it whithersoever He will." Lord make our mountains thus +plain. + +The 4th way how God removes mountains, is by an _overthrowing power_: +If there be no change yet, God will bring it down. "Every one that is +lifted up shall be brought low." + +By this which hath been said, ye may understand how a mountain may be +made plain. God makes mountains plains, either in mercy or in wrath. 1. +In mercy, when He takes a grip of the heart, and of a proud haughty +heart, makes it toward and plain: we have seen such a change by +experience. This work had many enemies at the beginning, that impeded +it, whom God hath taken by the heart, and made plain; yea, He hath made +them furtherers of the work. + +2. There is another way of making mountains plain, to wit, making plain +in wrath; when God overthrows the mountains that stand up impeding His +work. Assure yourselves, if God bring not down this mountain we have to +do with, in mercy, He shall overthrow it in wrath, and make it waste. +That I may make this mountain more plain, ye shall consider how it shall +become a plain, and how easily it may be made a plain. + +1. I see you looking up to the height of it, and ye are saying within +yourselves, How shall it come down? Ye must not think that it will come +down of its own accord; God useth instruments to pull down. I find that +God hath made His own people instruments to pull down such mountains: +"Fear not, worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel, I will help thee, saith the +holy One and thy Redeemer, behold I will make thee a new threshing +instrument having teeth; thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them +small, and shalt make the hills as chaff; thou shalt fan them, and the +wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them." Mark +these words, although Jacob be a worm, despised by the great ones of the +world, yet God will make him a threshing instrument, to beat these +mountains in pieces. The professors of this land are despised by the +mountains; yet fear not, for the sharp threshing instrument is made, I +hope it shall beat the mountains in pieces. We think them very high, but +if we had faith, that word would be verified. "Ye shall say to this +mountain, remove to yonder place, and it shall be removed, and nothing +shall be impossible unto you." + +But one is saying, I have not faith, that all that are joined this day +against the mountain shall continue. I hope they shall continue, I hope +they shall; but if they do not, we trust not in men, that they shall +bring down this mountain, but in God, who hath said, "Behold I am +against thee, O destroying mountain, I will stretch out My hand upon +thee, I will roll thee down from the rocks, and make thee a burnt +mountain; they shall not take of thee a stone for a corner, nor a +foundation; thou shalt be desolate for ever." This mountain ye see so +exalted, although men would hold it up, yet God will bring it down, and +make it a burnt mountain: even so, O Lord, do. + +2. In the second place consider how this mountain may be made a plain: I +told you it was but an artificial mountain, a stooted mountain, standing +upon weak pillars; if ye would take a look of the whole frame of the +mountain, it stands upon two main pillars; and upon the top of the +mountain stands the house of Dagon, an house of false worship, and take +me the pillars from episcopacy, and it shall fall; take episcopacy away, +and the house of Dagon shall fall. The two main pillars that prelacy +stands on are a civil and secular arm, and an ecclesiastical tongue, so +to speak. + +1. The _secular arm_ is the authority of princes, which have ever +upholden that mountain: ye know secular princes uphold antichrist, and +prelacy in this land is upholden by the secular power. 2. The second +pillar I call _ecclesiastical_, that is, prelacy in this land hath been +upholden by the tongues of kirkmen, preaching up this mountain, or, by +their pens, writing up this mountain: and these are the two pillars +whereupon our mountain of prelacy is stooted, the secular power, and the +tongues of kirkmen. Let the king withdraw his power and authority from +the prelates, and they shall fall suddenly in dross; let kirkmen and +ministers withdraw their tongues and pens from them, and our mountain +(ere ye look about you) shall become a plain. As these two stoot up this +mountain, so upon this mountain all false worship in the kirk is built, +even Dagon's house. "Lead me," says Samson, "to the pillars that Dagon's +house stands on, that I may be avenged for my two eyes." The Philistines +were never more cruel to Samson in pulling out his eyes, than our +prelates would have been to us: they pressed to put out our eyes, and +ere ever we were aware, they thought to lead us to Dagon's house, even +to the tents of popery and idolatry. Let us come to this main pillar of +Dagon's house, and apply all our strength to pull it down; that we may +not only be avenged for our eyes, which they have thought to pull out, +but also that the house of false worship, which is erected upon this +mountain, may fall to the ground. + +I hear some say, Minister, for all you are saying, the mountain will not +come down at this time; ye think nothing but it will come down. I assure +you, I would have it down, but ye must not think us that silly, as to +think it will come down, because we have many for us; we trust not in +men, but in God; and if this be the time that God will have it down, +although ye should lay all your hands about their head, they shall come +down: it appears they will come down, if there were no more but their +pride, avarice, cruelty, and loose living to pull them down, especially +when all these are come to height, as they are come to in them. And so +much for the mountain; ye see we have reproved it, God remove it. + +I come now to the three in the work, the mountain being removed, 1. It +is a work growing and going up; "He shall bring forth." 2. It is a work +finished; "He shall bring forth the head-stone thereof." 3. It is a work +praised; "He shall bring forth the head-stone thereof with shouting, +crying, grace, grace, be unto it." We shall speak of all these three +shortly. + +1. It is a work going up; it was impeded, but now it is going up. There +is something here very considerable; the work goes not up until the +mountain be made a plain. The mountain must not be pared or topped, but +it must altogether become plain, otherwise the work cannot go up, the +mountain of prelacy must not be pared nor topped, something taken away, +but it must be brought down wholly, otherwise the work of Reformation +cannot go on, neither Christ's house go up. + +It will be said, What ails you? You shall have your desires, but the +estate of bishops must stand; it is impossible to bring it down +altogether; the king may not want an estate, (truly a good one both to +kirk and commonwealth) ye shall have them brought within the old bounds +and caveats set down to them; they shall not hurt the kirk any more. The +Lord knows how loath I was to speak from this place; but seeing God hath +thrust me out, I must speak the truth. + +I say to you these quarters are not to be taken, because the mountain is +not of God's making, but of man's; therefore make it what ye will, God +will be displeased with it; yea it is impossible to set caveats to keep +them. I appeal to all your consciences, Is it possible to set caveats to +their pride and avarice? Their pride and avarice will break through ten +thousand caveats. I will clear this impossibility by similitudes. Tell +me, if a fountain in the town of Edinburgh were poisoned, whether were +it more safe to stop up the fountain, than to set a guard to keep it, +that none draw out of it, for there is hope the poison would do no harm? +There is no man of a sound judgment, but he will think it more safe to +stop up the fountain, than to guard it: this prelacy is the poisoned +fountain, wherefrom the kirk of Christ hath been poisoned with the +poison of error and superstition. Now the question is, Whether it be +safer to stop it up than to guard it? Surely it is safer to stop it up; +for all the caveats in the world will not keep the kirk unpoisoned, so +long as it remains. I will give you another similitude: If the town of +Edinburgh were (as many towns have been, and are) taken and possest by +cruel and obstinate enemies, who would take all your liberties from you, +would not suffer your magistrates to judge, and would spoil you of your +goods, and use all the cruelty that could be devised against the +inhabitants, if God give you occasion to be free of such a cruel and +obstinate enemy: what would you do if this were proponed to you? Why may +not you suffer the enemy to abide within the town? We shall take all +their weapons from them, they shall never hurt you any more. Would ye +not think it far better to put them out of the town altogether; both +because the inhabitants would be in fear, so long as they were in the +town, and because the town would never be sure: for there might be +traitors among yourselves, who would steal in weapons for their hands; +and so they would bring you under the former tyranny, yea under a +greater. Even so it is in this case; the crudest and greatest enemies +that ever the kirk of Scotland saw are those prelates; they have spoiled +us of all our liberties, and exercised intolerable tyranny over us. Now +the Lord is shewing a way how to be quit of them: consider the condition +offered. What ails you? May ye not let them abide within the kirk: we +shall take all their weapons from them; as admission of ministers, +excommunication, and that terrible high commission; they shall never +hurt you again. This is but the counsel of man; the counsel of God is, +to put them out of the kirk altogether, otherwise the kirk can never be +secure; yea, I assure you, there are as many traitors among ourselves, +as would steal in the weapons again in their hands; then shall our +latter estate be worse than our first: if our yoke be heavy under them +now, it shall be heavier then; if they chastise us now with whips, they +shall chastise us then with scorpions. I think I hear men speak like +that word, "Hew down the tree, cut down his branches, shake off his +leaves, scatter his fruits; nevertheless leave the stump of his roots +with a band of iron and brass." The interpretation of that part of the +vision is set down in the 26th verse; "Thy kingdom shall be sure unto +thee, after that thou hast known that the heavens bear rule." I hear men +say, Hew down the tree, cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, +scatter his fruits; ye shall be quit of all that; but the stump must be +left banded with iron. (If it were till they knew God, it were +something, but there is no appearance of that.) Consider, O man, who +saith that. "No man, but the watcher, and the holy One, even He that +made Nebuchadnezzar's kingdom sure to him." If God had made this estate +sure to them, it would and should stand; and if God would bind down the +stump of it with iron bands, we would never fear the growth of it, nor +the fruit of it; but seeing they are only bands to be laid on by men, +albeit the tree were hewed down, it would grow again in all the branches +of it, with all the leaves of its dignity, and we should taste of the +bitter fruit of it: ye that are covenanters, be not deceived, if ye +leave so much as a hillock of this mountain in despite of your hearts it +shall grow to a high mountain, which shall fill both kirk and +commonwealth. If the kirk would be quit of the troubles of it, and if ye +would have this work of reformation going up, this mountain must be made +a plain altogether, otherwise the Spirit of God saith, Ye shall never +prosper. + +The second thing in this is a work finished; "He shall bring forth the +head-stone thereof." When a head-stone is put on a house, the house is +finished: ye who are reverend fathers in the kirk, who have seen the +work of our first reformation, ye saw it going up, and brought to such a +perfection, that the cope-stone was put on; purity of doctrine, and +administration of sacraments, and sweetness of government, whereby the +kirk was ruled; but woe's us all, we see with you now the roof taken +off, the glorious work pulled down, and lying desolate. Now, it hath +pleased God to turn again, and offer a re-edifying of this work, as He +did here to the people of this temple: seeing therefore the Lord hath +stirred up our spirits, to crave a re-edifying of Christ's kirk, let us +never take our hands from it, till Christ have put the cope-stone on it. + +I hear some say, There is more ado ere that be done; ye sing the triumph +before the victory; ye will not see it go up at leisure. Ye are +deceived; we sing not the triumph before the victory; some of us are +afraid that it go not up so suddenly. I must say to you, if it be God's +work, (as it is indeed) all the powers of the world shall never be able +to hinder the putting on of the cope-stone. Ay, but say ye, It will be +hindered; ere ye get the work forward, ye will find the dint of the fire +and sword. Let it be so, if God will have it so, that will not impede +the work: if our blood be spilt in this cause, the cope-stone shall be +put on with our blood; for the kirk of God hath never prospered better +nor by the blood of saints. Fear not, beloved, this work, whether it be +done peaceably or with persecution, the cope-stone shall be put on it. +Ye know in the beginning of the reformation, there was small likelihood +that the work should go up, and be finished, because of the great power +that was against it; yet the Lord brought it forward against all +impediments; and put the cope-stone on it: that same God lives yet, and +is as able to put the cope-stone on this work, as He was then, if ye +believe. + +The third thing in this work is a work praised; "He shall bring forth +the head-stone thereof with shoutings, crying, grace, grace unto it." +All ye that build and behold the work, will love the work, and will all +wish it well. He alludes by appearance, who, when the foundation of a +common work is laid, rejoices, and when it is finished, rejoices. Ye may +see this clear in Ezra iii. 11: at the laying of the foundation of this +temple, the people shouted with a great shout: if they did that at the +laying of the foundation, much more shall they do it at the bringing +forth of the head-stone thereof; as is said here, the words they cry, +grace, grace. The phrase comprehends under it these three things: + +1. A wish of the people of God, whereby they wish prosperity to the +work. Ye may see it was a common wish. "Thus saith the Lord of hosts, As +ye shall use this speech in the land of Judah, and cities thereof, when +I shall bring again their captivity: the Lord bless thee, O habitation +of justice, and mountain of holiness." + +2. It comprehends under it a thanksgiving; the workers give all praise +to the work. When the builders laid the foundation of the temple, they +set the priests with their trumpets, and the Levites with their cymbals, +to praise the Lord, after the ordinance of David: "They sang by course, +praising God, and giving thanks unto the Lord, because He is good, and +His mercy endureth forever." + +3. The third thing it comprehends under it, is a faithful acknowledgment +that the work is built and finished, by no power and strength of men, +but by the grace of God. Look the verse preceding the text, and ye will +find it thus, "Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the +Lord of hosts:" ye may easily apply this. Our work that God is bringing +up, and will finish, should be a praised work, our wishes should be to +it: "The Lord bless thee, O habitation of justice, and mountain of +holiness." Our song of thanksgiving should be in our mouths, "God is +good, and His mercy endureth forever."--Albeit it go up, let us not +ascribe any thing to ourselves, but let us ascribe all to the grace of +God; and this will stop all the mouths of disdainers, who say, "Who are +ye, who think to finish such a work?" We answer, "It will be finished, +not by might, nor by strength of man, but by the Spirit of the Lord of +hosts." + +There are three sorts looking to this work, and to the going up of it: +1. Evil-willers. 2. Well-wishers. 3. Neutrals. 1. The evil-willers are +Edom; and he was Jacob's brother; yet in Psalm cxxxvii. he cries, "raze, +raze this work to the foundation." There is a number that is crying, +raze, raze this work to the foundation. 2. There is a second sort that +are well-wishers, crying, grace, grace be unto it. In those former +years, the shout of raze, raze, hath been louder than grace, grace; but +now, God be praised, the shout of grace, grace, is louder than raze, +raze. 3. There is a third sort gazing upon this work, who dare not cry, +raze, raze, because they are borne down with grace, grace; they dare not +cry grace, grace, for fear of authority. What shall I say to these +neutrals? They are so incapable of admonition, that it will be a +spending of time to crave their concurrence to the work. To whom shall I +speak then? My text is an apostrophe, if I may use one; that which I +shall use first is God's own words from Isaiah, "Hear, O heavens, +hearken, O earth, for the Lord hath spoken, I have nourished and brought +up children, and they have rebelled against Me." + +I will next turn me to strangers and foreigners. All ye of reformed +kirks (What! have I said strangers? These men who are brought up in the +kirk, are strangers from the womb; but) ye are joined with us in a +corporation; come therefore with your fellow-feeling, let us hear your +shouts and cries of, grace, grace, be unto the Kirk of Scotland; and let +your wishes condemn these ungrateful neutrals, who profess themselves +children of this kirk, and yet will not rejoice with us for the good of +our mother. + +Now, ye have heard this text in all these six steps. 1. A mountain +seen. 2. A mountain reproved and disdained. 3. A mountain to be removed. +4. A growing work. 5. To be finished. 6. With great applause of all +well-willers, wishing grace unto the work. And seeing I have ado with +this great mountain; both with mountains that impede this work, and all +ranks of persons, removers of the work, I will direct my speech to these +with the apostrophe in the text. + +And first, To the mountains lying in the way of this reformation: I rank +them in two sorts, viz., prelates, and upholders of prelates. O +prelates, if I had hope to come speed with you, I would exhort you in +the name of Christ, to lay down your worldly dignity, and help us to +exalt the kirk of Christ: but I fear ye have hardened yourselves so +against the truth, that nothing will prevail with you, except ye keep +your worldly monarchy; yet ye shall be forced to take up my apostrophe, +"O mountains of Gilboa, on whom the anointed of the Lord is fallen, +neither come dew nor rain upon you." Ye are these mountains, upon whom +Christ and His Anointed have been slain; the dew and rain of God's grace +are not on you: ye may well receive fatness from beneath, to make you +great in this world; but from above, ye are not bedewed with the grace +of God, without which, whatever your bodies be, ye have clean souls. +Under this curse I leave you, and turn to you, O great mountains; great +men, who are putting your shoulders to hold up this mountain of prelacy; +I beseech you, if ye have any love to Christ, to take your shoulders, +and help from this pestiferous mountain the wreck of Christ's kirk. And +if exhortance will not prevail with you, I charge you in the name of the +great God, and His Son Jesus Christ, to whom one day ye must give your +account, that ye in nowise underprop this mountain; the which if ye +obey, I am sure the Lord will bless you, and your posterity; but if ye +will not, though ye were never so high a mountain in this kingdom, ye +shall become a plain. + +In particular, I speak to all ranks of persons. O noblemen, who are the +high mountains of this kingdom, bow your tops, and look on the kirk of +Christ, lying in the vallies, sighing, groaning, swooning and looking +towards you with pitiful looks: if the Sun of Righteousness hath shined +on you, let her have a shadow, as ye would have God to be a shadow to +you in the day of your distress. + +Barons and gentlemen, who are as the pleasant hills coming from the +mountains (I speak to you for the relation that is betwixt you and the +mountains, for by your descent ye are hewn out of the mountains) my +heart is glad to see you lift your tops, as the palms of your hands +reached to the mountains, that they and ye may be as a shelter for the +kirk of Christ. I pray you separate not your hands from theirs, till our +work be brought forth with shouting. + +Burrows (Burghs), who are as the vallies God hath blessed with the +fatness of the earth, and the merchandise of the sea; the mountains and +hills are looking to you, and ye to them: join yourselves in an +inseparable union, and compass the vineyard of Christ; be to her a wall +of defence, lest the wild beasts of the wood waste it, and the wild +beasts of the forest devour it. + +Ministers, and my faithful brethren in Christ, whose feet are beautiful +upon the mountains, say unto Zion, "Behold thy God reigneth." I tell +you, within these two years, an honest man's feet were not beautiful +upon the streets of Edinburgh. We might have gone home to our houses +again, and shaken the dust off our feet for a conviction against this +unthankful generation; but now (God be praised) they are beautiful, and +we are comely in their eyes, not for any thing in us, for we lay all +down at the feet of Christ; but because we are gone up upon mount Zion, +and as the Lord's messengers, have cried, "Behold thy God reigneth." I +pray you, if ye have any love to the kirk of Christ, withdraw both your +tongues and pens from this mountain, and apply them against it; apply +your wits, engines, spirits, and all your strength to beat down this +mountain; yea, tread upon it, and use the sharp threshing instruments +which God hath put into your hands, and thresh upon that mountain, till +it be beaten small as the chaff. + +Shall I pass you that are commons? Truly my delight hath not been so +great upon this mountain, as to make me overlook you. My good people, +beloved in Christ, have ye nothing to contribute for this work? Have ye +not so much power as the mountains and hills have? Or, have ye not such +substance as the vallies? Yet something ye have, give it, and it will be +acceptable, something against the mountain, and something for the work. +If ye have no more against the mountain, let me have your tears, +prayers, and strong cries; I am sure there is as great value in them, as +in the rams' horns that blew down Jericho: send up your prayers, and cry +with the Psalmist, "Bow thy heavens, O Lord, and come down, touch the +mountains, and they shall smoke; cast forth lightning, and scatter them; +shoot out thine arrows, and destroy them; send thine hand from above, +and deliver me out of the great waters, from the hand of strange +children, whose mouth speaketh vanity, their right hand is a right hand +of falsehood." As ye have your tears and prayers against this mountain, +lend me also what ye have for the going up of this work: if ye have no +more, let us have your shouts and hearty crying, "grace, grace be unto +it." Time will not suffer me to speak any more, yet time shall never +bereave you or me of this. Let us all resolve so long as our life is in, +even to the last gasp, as God will help us, that this shall be our last +cry, Grace, grace be unto this work of reformation in the kirk of +Scotland. + +To this grace I recommend you, and close with that wish of the Apostles +in the New Testament. _The grace of God be with you all._ Amen. + + + + +THE SOLEMN LEAGUE AND COVENANT. + +[Illustration] + + + + +THE SOLEMN LEAGUE AND COVENANT: + + +_For Reformation and Defence of Religion, the Honour and Happiness of +the King, and the Peace and Safety of the Three Kingdoms of Scotland, +England, and Ireland; agreed upon by Commissioners from the Parliament +and Assembly of Divines in England, with Commissioners of the Convention +of Estates, and General Assembly in Scotland; approved by the General +Assembly of the Church of Scotland, and by both Houses of Parliament and +Assembly of Divines in England, and taken and subscribed by them_, Anno +1643; _and thereafter, by the said authority, taken and subscribed by +all Ranks in Scotland and England the same year; and ratified by the Act +of Parliament of Scotland_, Anno 1644: _And again renewed in Scotland, +with an Acknowledgment of Sins, and Engagement to Duties, by all Ranks_, +Anno 1648, _and by Parliament_ 1649; _and taken and subscribed by_ King +Charles II. at Spey, June 23, 1650; and at Scoon, January 1, 1651. + +We Noblemen, Barons, Knights, Gentlemen, Citizens, Burgesses, Ministers +of the Gospel, and Commons of all sorts in the kingdoms of Scotland, +England, and Ireland, by the providence of GOD, living under one King, +and being of one reformed religion, having before our eyes the glory of +God, and the advancement of the kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus +Christ, the honour and happiness of the King's Majesty and his +posterity, and the true publick liberty, safety, and peace of the +kingdoms, wherein every one's private condition is included: And calling +to mind the treacherous and bloody plots, conspiracies, attempts, and +practices of the enemies of GOD, against the true religion and +professors thereof in all places, especially in these three kingdoms, +ever since the reformation of religion; and how much their rage, power, +and presumption are of late, and at this time, increased and exercised, +whereof the deplorable state of the church and kingdom of Ireland, the +distressed estate of the church and kingdom of England, and the +dangerous estate of the church and kingdom of Scotland, are present and +public testimonies; we have now at last, (after other means of +supplication, remonstrance, protestation, and sufferings,) for the +preservation of ourselves and our religion from utter ruin and +destruction, according to the commendable practice of these kingdoms in +former times, and the example of GOD'S people in other nations, after +mature deliberation, resolved and determined to enter into a mutual and +solemn League and Covenant, wherein we all subscribe, and each one of us +for himself, with our hands lifted up to the most High GOD, do swear, + +I. That we shall sincerely, really, and constantly, through the grace of +GOD, endeavour, in our several places and callings, the preservation of +the reformed religion in the Church of Scotland, in doctrine, worship, +discipline, and government against our common enemies; the reformation +of religion in the kingdoms of England and Ireland, in doctrine, +worship, discipline, and government, according to the Word of GOD, and +the example of the best reformed Churches: and shall endeavour to bring +the Churches of God in the three kingdoms to the nearest conjunction and +uniformity in religion, confession of faith, form of church-government, +directory for worship and catechising; that we, and our posterity after +us, may, as brethren, live in faith and love, and the Lord may delight +to dwell in the midst of us. + +II. That we shall, in like manner, without respect of persons endeavour +the extirpation of Popery, Prelacy, (that is, church-government by +Archbishops, Bishops, their Chancellors, and Commissaries, Deans, Deans +and Chapters, Archdeacons, and all other ecclesiastical Officers +depending on hierarchy,) superstition, heresy, schism, profaneness, and +whatsoever shall be found to be contrary to sound doctrine and the power +of godliness, lest we partake in other men's sins, and thereby be in +danger to receive of their plagues; and that the Lord may be one, and +His name one, in the three Kingdoms. + +III. We shall, with the same sincerity, reality, and constancy, in our +several vocations, endeavour, with our estates and lives, mutually to +preserve the rights and privileges of the Parliaments, and the liberties +of the kingdoms; and to preserve and defend the King's Majesty's person +and authority, in the preservation and defence of the true religion, and +liberties of the kingdoms; that the world may bear witness with our +consciences of our loyalty, and that we have no thoughts or intentions +to diminish his Majesty's just power and greatness. + +IV. We shall also, with all faithfulness, endeavour the discovery of all +such as have been or shall be incendiaries, malignants, or evil +instruments, by hindering the reformation of religion, dividing the king +from his people, or one of the kingdoms from another, or making any +faction or parties amongst the people, contrary to this League and +Covenant; that they may be brought to public trial, and receive condign +punishment, as the degree of their offences shall require or deserve, or +the supreme judicatories of both kingdoms respectively, or others having +power from them for that effect, shall judge convenient. + +V. And whereas the happiness of a blessed peace between these kingdoms, +denied in former times to our progenitors, is, by the good providence +of GOD, granted unto us, and hath been lately concluded and settled by +both Parliaments; we shall each one of us, according to our place and +interest, endeavour that they may remain conjoined in a firm peace and +union to all posterity; and that justice may be done upon the wilful +opposers thereof, in manner expressed in the precedent article. + +VI. We shall also, according to our places and callings, in this common +cause of religion, liberty, and peace of the kingdoms, assist and defend +all those that enter into this League and Covenant, in the maintaining +and pursuing thereof; and shall not suffer ourselves, directly or +indirectly, by whatsoever combination, persuasion, or terror, to be +divided and withdrawn from this blessed union and conjunction, whether +to make defection to the contrary part, or to give ourselves to a +detestable indifferency or neutrality in this cause which so much +concerneth the glory of GOD, the good of the kingdom, and honour of the +King; but shall, all the days of our lives, zealously and constantly +continue therein against all opposition, and promote the same, according +to our power, against all lets and impediments whatsoever; and, what we +are not able ourselves to suppress or overcome, we shall reveal and make +known, that it may be timely prevented or removed: All which we shall do +as in the sight of God. + +And, because these kingdoms are guilty of many sins and provocations +against GOD, and His Son JESUS CHRIST, as is too manifest by our present +distresses and dangers, the fruits thereof; we profess and declare, +before GOD and the world, our unfeigned desire to be humbled for our own +sins, and for the sins of these kingdoms; especially, that we have not +as we ought valued the inestimable benefit of the Gospel; that we have +not laboured for the purity and power thereof; and that we have not +endeavoured to receive CHRIST in our hearts, nor to walk worthy of Him +in our lives; which are the causes of other sins and transgressions so +much abounding amongst us: and our true and unfeigned purpose, desire, +and endeavour for ourselves, and all others under our power and charge, +both in public and in private, in all duties we owe to GOD and man, to +amend our lives, and each one to go before another in the example of a +real reformation; that the Lord may turn away His wrath and heavy +indignation, and establish these churches and kingdoms in truth and +peace. And this Covenant we make in the presence of ALMIGHTY GOD, the +Searcher of all hearts, with a true intention to perform the same, as we +shall answer at that great day, when the secrets of all hearts shall be +disclosed; most humbly beseeching the LORD to strengthen us by His HOLY +SPIRIT for this end, and to bless our desires and proceedings with such +success, as may be deliverance and safety to His people, and +encouragement to other Christian churches, groaning under, or in danger +of, the yoke of antichristian tyranny, to join in the same or like +association and covenant, to the glory of GOD, the enlargement of the +kingdom of JESUS CHRIST, and the peace and tranquility of Christian +kingdoms and commonwealths. + + + + +THE SOLEMN LEAGUE AND COVENANT. + +ACT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. + +_At Edinburgh, August 17th, 1643, Sess._ 14. + + +The Assembly having recommended unto a committee, appointed by them to +join with the committee of the honourable Convention of Estates, and the +commissioners of the Honourable Houses of the Parliament of England, for +bringing the kingdoms to a more near conjunction and union, received +from the aforesaid committees the covenant after-mentioned, as the +result of their consultations: and having taken the same, as a matter of +so public concernment and of so deep importance doth require, unto their +gravest consideration, did with all their hearts, and with the +beginnings of the feelings of that joy, which they did find in so great +measure upon the renovation of the National Covenant of this kirk and +kingdom, all with one voice approve and embrace the same, as the most +powerful mean, by the blessing of GOD, for the settling and preserving +the true protestant religion, with perfect peace in his majesty's +dominions, and propagating the same to other nations, and for +establishing his majesty's throne to all ages and generations. And +therefore, with their best affections, recommended the same to the Hon. +Convention of Estates, that being examined and approved by them, it may +be sent with all diligence to the kingdom of England, that being +received and approven there, the same may be, with public humiliation, +and all religious and answerable solemnity, sworn and subscribed by all +true professors of the reformed religion, and all his majesty's good +subjects in both kingdoms. + + + + +THE SOLEMN LEAGUE AND COVENANT. + +EXHORTATION AT WESTMINSTER. + +_BY PHILIP NYE._[6] + + +A great and solemn work (Honourable and Reverend) this day is put into +our hands; let us stir up and awaken our hearts unto it. We deal with +God as well as with men, and with God in His greatness and excellency, +for by Him we swear; and at the same time we have to do with God and His +goodness, Who now reacheth out unto us a strong and seasonable arm of +assistance. The goodness of God procuring succour and help to a sinful +and afflicted people (such are we) ought to be matter of fear and +trembling, even to all that hear of it. We are to exalt and acknowledge +Him this day, Who is fearful in praises, swear by that name which is +holy and reverend, enter into a covenant and league that is never to be +forgotten by us nor our posterity, and the fruit I hope of it shall be +so great, as both we and they shall have cause to remember it with joy; +and such an oath as for matter, persons, and other circumstances, the +like hath not been in any age or oath we read of in sacred or human +history, yet sufficiently warranted in both. + +The parties engaging in this league, are three kingdoms, famous for the +knowledge and acknowledgment of Christ above all the kingdoms in the +world; to swear before such a presence should mould the spirit of man +into a great deal of reverence. What then to be engaged, to be +incorporated, and that by sacred oath, with such an high and honourable +fraternity? An oath is to be esteemed so much the more solemn, by how +much greater the persons are that swear each to other; so in this +business, where kingdoms swear mutually. + +And as the solemnity of an oath is to be measured by the persons +swearing, so by the matter also that is to be sworn to. God would not +swear to the covenant of Works, He intended not to honour it so much, it +was not to continue, it was not worthy of an oath of His; but to the +Covenant of Grace, which is the Gospel, He swears, and repents not of +it. God swears for the salvation of men, and of kingdoms: and if +kingdoms swear, what subject of an oath becometh them better than the +preservation and salvation of kingdoms, by establishing the kingdom of a +Saviour amongst them, even our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Who is a +Mediator and Saviour for nations as well as particular persons? + +The end also is great and honourable, as either of the former. "Two are +better than one," saith He, Who knoweth what is best, and from Whom +alone every thing hath the goodness it hath. Association is of divine +offspring; not only the being of creatures, but the putting of them +together. The cluster as well as the grape is the work of God. Consort +and harmony amongst men, especially amongst saints, is very pleasing +unto the Lord. If, when but two or three agree and assent upon any thing +on earth, it shall be confirmed in heaven, and for this, because they +gather together in His name; much more when two or three kingdoms shall +meet, and consent together in His name, and for His name, that God "may +be one, and His name one amongst them," and His presence amidst them. +That prayer of Christ seemeth to proceed from a feeling sense of His own +blessedness, "Father, that they may be one, as Thou in Me." Unity among +His churches and children must needs therefore be very acceptable unto +Him: for out of the more deep sense desires are fetcht from within us, +the more pleasing will be the answer of them unto us. Churches and +kingdoms are near to God, His patience towards them, His compassions +over them more than particular persons sheweth it plainly. But kingdoms +willingly engaging themselves for His kingdom, His Christ, His saints, +the purity of religion, His worship and government, in all particulars, +and in all humility sitting down at His feet to receive the law, and the +rule from His mouth: what a price doth He set upon such? Especially, +when (as we this day) sensible of our infirmity, and of an unfaithful +heart not steady with our God, but apt to start from the cause, if we +feel the knife or the fire; who bind ourselves with cords, as a +sacrifice to the horns of the altar; we invocate the name of the great +God, that His vows, yea, His curse may be upon us, if we do not this; +yea, though we suffer for so doing, that is, if we endeavour not so far +as the Lord shall assist us by His grace, to advance the kingdom of the +Lord Jesus Christ here upon earth, and make Jerusalem once more the +praise of the whole world, notwithstanding all the contradictions of +men. + +What is this but the contents and matter of our oath? What do we +covenant? What do we vow? Is it not the preservation of religion, where +it is reformed, and the reformation of religion, where it needs? Is it +not the reformation of three kingdoms, and a reformation universal, in +doctrine, discipline, and worship, in whatsoever the word shall discover +unto us? To practise is a fruit of love; to reform, a fruit of zeal; but +so to reform, will be a token of great prudence and circumspection in +each of these churches: and all this to be done according to God's +word, the best rule, and according to the best reformed churches, and +best interpreters of this rule. If England hath obtained to any greater +perfection in so handling the word of righteousness, and truths that are +according to godliness, as to make men more godly, more righteous: and, +if in the churches of Scotland any more light and beauty in matters of +order and discipline, by which their assemblies are more orderly: or, if +to any other church or person, it hath been given better to have learned +Christ in any of His ways, than any of us, we shall humbly bow, and kiss +their lips that can speak right words unto us, in this matter, and help +us into the nearest uniformity with the word and mind of Christ in this +great work of Reformation. + +Honourable and reverend brethren, there cannot be a more direct and +effectual way to exhort and persuade the wise, and men of sad and +serious spirits (and such are you to whom I am commanded to speak this +day) than to let into their understandings the weight, and worth, and +great importance of the work, they are persuaded unto. This oath is +such, and, in the matter and consequence of it, of such concernment, as +I can truly say, It is worthy of us; yea, of all these kingdoms; yea, of +all the kingdoms of the world; for it is swearing fealty and allegiance +unto Christ, the King of kings; and giving up of all these kingdoms +which are in His inheritance, to be subdued more to His throne, and +ruled more by His sceptre, upon whose shoulders the government is laid, +and "of the increase of whose government and peace there shall be no +end." Yea, we find this very thing in the utmost accomplishment of it, +to have been the oath of the greatest angel that ever was, who setting +his feet upon two of God's kingdoms, the one upon the sea, the other +upon the earth, lifting up his hand to heaven, as you are to do this +day, and so swearing. The effect of that oath you shall find to be this, +"That the kingdoms of the world become the kingdoms of the Lord and His +Christ, and He shall reign forever." His oath was for the full and final +accomplishment, this of yours for a gradual, yet a great performance +towards it. + +That which the apostles and primitive times did so much and so long pray +for, tho' never long with much quietness enjoyed; that which our fathers +in these latter times have fasted, prayed and mourned after, yet +attained not; even the cause which many dear saints now with God, have +furthered by extremest sufferings, poverty, imprisonment, banishment, +death, even ever since the first dawning of reformation: that and the +very same is the very cause and work that we are come now, through the +mercy of Jesus Christ, not only to pray for, but swear to. And surely it +can be no other, but the result and answer of such prayers and tears, of +such sincerity and sufferings, that three kingdoms should be thus born, +or rather new-born in a day; that these kingdoms should be wrought about +to so great an engagement, than which nothing is higher. For this end +kings reign, kingdoms stand, and states are upheld. + +It is a special grace and favour of God unto you, brethren, (Reverend +and Honourable) to vouchsafe you the opportunity, and to put into your +hearts, as this day, to engage your lives and estates in matters so much +concerning Him and His glory. And if you should do no more, but lay a +foundation stone in this great work, and by so doing engage posterity +after you to finish it, it were honour enough: but there may yet further +use be made of you, who now are to take this oath. You are designed as +chief master-builders, and choice instruments for the effecting of this +settled peace and reformation; which, if the Lord shall please to finish +in your hands, a greater happiness on earth, nor a greater means to +augment your glory and crown in heaven, you are not capable of. And +this, let me further add for your encouragement, of what extensive good, +and fruit in the success of it, this very oath may prove to be, we know +not. God hath set His covenant like the heavens, not only for duration, +but like also for extension. The heavens move and roll about, and so +communicate their light, and heat, and virtue, to all places and parts +of the earth; so doth the covenant of God; so may this gift be given to +other covenants, that are framed to this pattern. How much this solemn +league and oath may provoke other reformed churches to a further +reformation of themselves; what light and heat it may communicate abroad +to other parts of the world, it is only in Him to define, to whom is +given the utmost ends of the earth for His inheritance, and worketh by +His exceeding great power great things out of small beginnings. + +But however, this I am sure of, it is a way in all probability most +likely to enable us to preserve and defend our religion against our +common enemies; and possibly a more sure foundation this day will be +laid for ruining popery and prelacy, the chief of them, than yet hath +been led unto in any age. For popery hath been a religion ever dexterous +in fencing and mounting itself by association and joint strength. All +sorts of professors amongst them are cast into fraternities and +brotherhoods; and these orders carefully united by vow one with another, +and under some more general notion of common dependence. Such states +also and kingdoms, as they have thus made theirs, they endeavour to +improve and secure by strict combinations and leagues each to other; +witness of late years that _la sainte ligue_, the holy league. It will +not be unworthy your consideration, whether, seeing the preservation of +popery hath been by leagues and covenant, God may not make a league or +covenant to be the destruction of it. Nay, the very rise of popery +seemeth to be after such a manner, by kings, that is kingdoms assenting +and agreeing perhaps by some joint covenant (the text saith, "with one +mind," why not then with one mouth) to give their power and strength +unto the beast, and make war against the Lamb. For you read, "the Lamb +shall overcome the beast," and possibly with the same weapons. He is the +Lord of lords, and King of kings, He can unite kings and kingdoms, and +give them one mind also to destroy the whore, and be her utter ruin. And +may not this day's work be a happy beginning of such a blessed +expedition? + +Prelacy, another common enemy, that we covenant and swear against. What +hath been, or what hath the strength of it been, but a subtile +combination of clergymen, formed into a policy or body of their own +invention, framing themselves into subordination and dependence one upon +another; so that the interest of each is improved by all, and a great +power by this means acquired to themselves, as by sad experience we have +lately found. The joints and members of this body, you know, were knit +together by the sacred engagement of an oath, the _Oath of Canonical +Obedience_, as they called it. You remember also, with what cunning +industry they endeavoured lately, to make this oath and covenant more +sure for themselves and their posterity, and intended a more public, +solemn and universal engagement; than since Popery, this cause of +theirs, was ever maintained or supported by: and questionless, Ireland +and Scotland also must at last have been brought into this holy league +with England. But blessed be the Lord, and blessed be His good hand, the +parliament that, from the indignation of their spirits against so horrid +a yoke, have dashed out the very brains of this project, and are now +this day present before the Lord, to take and give possession of this +blessed ordinance, even an oath and covenant, as solemn, and of as large +extent, as they intended theirs; uniting these three kingdoms into such +a league and happy combination, as will doubtless preserve us and our +reformation against them, though their iniquity, in the mysteries of it, +should still be working amongst us. Come, therefore (I speak in the +words of the prophet) "let us join ourselves to the Lord," and one to +another, and each to all, "in a perpetual covenant that shall not be +forgotten." + +We are now entering upon a work of the greatest moment and concernment +to us, and to our posterity after us, that ever was undertaken by any of +us, or any of our forefathers before us, or neighbouring nations about +us; if the Lord shall bless this our beginning, it will be a happy day, +and we shall be a happy people. An oath is a duty of the first +commandment, and therefore of the highest and noblest order and rank of +duties, therefore must come forth attended with choicest graces, +especially with these two, humility and fear. + +Fear, not only of God, which ought to be in an eminent measure. Jacob +sware by the fear of his father Isaac, as if he coveted to inherit his +father's grace, as well as his father's God: but also, fear of an oath, +it being a dreadful duty, and hath this peculiar, it is established by +the oath of God, "I have sworn, that unto Me every tongue shall swear." +It is made the very character of a saint, he fears an oath. + +Humility is another grace requisite. Set your hearts before God in an +humble obedient frame. "Thou shall fear the Lord thy God, and serve Him, +and swear by His name." The apostle Paul was sensible of this +engagement, even in the very act of this duty. "I call God to witness, +whom I serve in my spirit:" although it be a work of the lips, yet the +heart, and the whole man must be interested, if we expect this worship +to be acceptable. "Accept the free-will offering of my mouth, and teach +me Thy judgments." + +Also it must be done in the greatest simplicity and plainness of spirit, +in respect of those with whom we covenant; we call God as a witness +betwixt us, who searcheth the heart: "With Him is wisdom and strength, +the deceived and deceiver are His." He hath wisdom to discover, and +strength to punish, if our hearts be not upright to our brethren in +this matter. Let us be contented with this, that the words of our +covenant be bands; it may not be, so much as in the desire of our +hearts, that they should become snares, no not to the weakest and +simplest person that joineth with us. On the whole work make your +address unto God, as Jacob did to his father Isaac, and let there be the +like fear and jealousy over your spirits. "My father peradventure will +feel me, and I shall seem to Him as a deceiver, and I shall bring a +curse upon me, and not a blessing." + +I take liberty with more earnestness to press this care upon you, +because I have observed oaths and covenants have been undertaken by us +formerly, and by the command of authority, the fruit whereof, though +great, yet answered not our expectation; the Lord surely hath been +displeased with the slightness of our hearts in the work. I beseech you +be more watchful, and stir up your hearts with more industry this day +than ever before. As it is the last oath you are likely to take in this +kind, so it is our last refuge, _Tabula post naufragium_. If this help +us not, we are likely to remain to our dying day an unhappy people; but +if otherwise, "You will indeed swear with all your hearts, and seek the +Lord with your whole desire, God will be found, and give you rest round +about." + +And having sworn, and entered into this solemn engagement to God and +man, make conscience to do accordingly; otherwise it is better thou +shouldst not vow. As is said of fasting, "It is not the bowing down of +the head for a day;" so of this solemn swearing, It is not the lifting +up of the hand for a day, but an honest and faithful endeavouring after +the contents of this covenant, all our days. A truce-breaker is reckoned +up amongst the vilest of Christians, so a covenant-breaker is listed +amongst the worst of heathens, but he that sweareth and changeth not, +tho' he swear to his hurt, that is, he that will keep his covenant and +oath, tho' the contents of it prove not for him, nay possibly against +him, yet he will keep it for his oath's sake, such an one "shall have +his habitation with the most High, and dwell in His tabernacle." And as +for you, reverend brethren, that are ministers of the gospel, there is +yet another obligation will lie upon you: let us look to ourselves, and +make provision to walk answerable to this our covenant, for the gospel's +sake: it will reflect a great aspersion upon the truth of the gospel, if +we should be false or inconstant in any word or purpose, tho' in a +matter of less consequence, as you can easily collect from that apology +of Paul. How much more in such a case as this is, if we should be found +to purpose, nay more, to vow, and covenant, and swear, and all this +according unto the flesh, and with us there should be, notwithstanding +all these obligations, yea, yea, and nay, nay. + +That we may all, who take the covenant this day, be constant, +immoveable, and abound in this work of the Lord, that we may not start +aside, or give back, or go on uncomfortably, there is a twofold grace or +qualification to be laboured after. + +1. We must get courage, spirits that are bold and resolute. It is said +in Haggai, that "the Lord stirred up the Spirit of Zerubbabel, governor +of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua, the high priest, and the spirit of +all the remnant of the people, and they came and did work in the house +of the Lord." The work of God's house, reformation work especially, is a +stirring work: read history, you find not any where, reformation made in +any age, either in doctrine or discipline, without great stir and +opposition. This was foretold by the same prophet, the promise is, "He +will fill His house with glory." But what goeth before. "Yet once it is +a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the +sea, and the dry land," that is, all nations, as in the words following. +This place is applied to the removing Jewish rites, the moveables of +God's house. The like you find in the apostles' times, the truth being +preached, some believed, others did not. Here beginneth the stir. Those +that believed not, "took unto themselves certain lewd fellows of the +baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city in an uproar;" +and when they had done so, complained of the brethren to the rulers, as +men that turn the world upside down. In such a work therefore, men had +need be of stout, resolute and composed spirits, that we may be able to +go on in the main, and stir in the midst of such stirs, and not be +amazed at any such doings. It may possibly happen, that even amongst +yourselves, there will be outcries: Sir, you will undo all, saith one; +You will put all into confusion, saith another; If you take this course, +saith a third, we can expect nothing but blood. But a wise statesman, +like an experienced seaman, knoweth the compass of his vessel, and tho' +it heave, toss, and the passengers cry out about him, yet in the midst +of all, he is himself, turneth not aside from his work, but steereth on +his course. I beseech you, let it be seriously considered, if you mean +to do any such work in the house of God, as this is; if you mean to +pluck up what many years ago was planted, or to build up what so long +ago was pulled down, and to go thro' with this work and not be +discouraged, you must beg of the Lord this excellent spirit, this +resolute, stirring spirit, otherwise you will be outspirited, and both +you and your cause slighted and dishonoured. + +2. On the other hand, we must labour for humility, prudence, gentleness, +meekness. A man may be very zealous and resolute, and yet very meek and +merciful: Jesus Christ was a Lion, and yet a Lamb also; in one place, He +telleth them He cometh to send "fire on the earth:" and, in another +place, rebuketh His disciples "for their fiery spirits." There was the +like composition in Moses, and in Paul; and it is of great use, +especially in this work of reformation. I have not observed any disputes +carried on with more bitterness in men's writings, and with a more +unsanctified heat of spirit, yea, and by godly men too, than in +controversies about discipline, church government, ceremonies, and the +like. Surely, to argue about government with such ungoverned passions, +to argue for reformation with a spirit so unreformed, is very uncomely. +Let us be zealous, as Christ was, to cast out all, to extirpate and root +out every plant His heavenly Father hath not planted; and yet let us do +it in an orderly way, and with the Spirit of Christ, whose servants we +are. "The servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle to all men, +apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose." We +solemnly engage this day our utmost endeavours for reformation; let us +remember this, that too much heat, as well as too much coldness, may +harden men in their ways, and hinder reformation. + +Brethren, let us come to this blessed work with such a frame of heart, +with such a mind, for the present, with such resolutions for the time to +come; let us not be wanting to the opportunity God hath put into our +hands this day; and then I can promise you, as the prophet, "Consider +this day and upwards, even from this day, that the foundation of the +Lord's work is laid, consider it, from this day will I bless you saith +the Lord." Nay, we have received, as it were, the first fruits of this +promise; for, as it is said of some men's good "works, they are manifest +before-hand." Even so may be said of the good work of this day, it is +manifested before-hand. God hath, as it were before-hand, testified His +acceptance; while we were thinking and purposing this free-will +offering, He was protecting and defending our army, causing our enemies, +the enemies of this work, to flee before us, and gave us a victory, not +to be despised. Surely this oath and covenant shall be Judah's joy, the +joy and comfort of this whole kingdom, yea, of all the three kingdoms. + +Jesus Christ, King of the saints, govern us by His Spirit, strengthen us +by His power, undertake for us according as He hath sworn, even the +"oath which He sware to our father Abraham, that He would grant unto us, +that we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies, might serve Him +without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him, all the days of +our life." Grant unto us also, that when this life is finished, and we +gathered to our fathers, there may be a generation out of our loins to +stand up in this cause, that His great and reverend name may be exalted +from one generation to another, until He Himself shall come, and perfect +all His own wisdom: even so come Lord Jesus, come quickly. Amen. + + + + +THE SOLEMN LEAGUE AND COVENANT. + +ADDRESS AT WESTMINSTER.[7] + +_BY ALEXANDER HENDERSON._ + + +Although the time be far spent, yet am I bold (honourable, reverend, and +beloved in the Lord) to crave your patience a little. It were both sin +and shame to us in this so acceptable a time in this day, which the Lord +hath made, to be silent and to say nothing. If we should hold our peace, +we could neither be answerable to God, whose cause and work is in hand, +nor to this church and kingdom, unto which we have made so large +profession of duty, and owe much more; nor to our native kingdom, so +abundant in affection towards you; nor to our own hearts, which +exceedingly rejoice to see this day. We have greater reason than the +leprous men sitting in a time of great extremity at the gates of +Samaria, to say one to another, "We do not well, this day is a day of +good tidings, and we hold our peace." It is true, the Syrians are not +yet fled; but our hope is through God, that the work begun this day, +being sincerely performed, and faithfully pursued, shall put to flight, +not only the Syrians and Babylonians, but all other enemies of the +church of God, of the king's honour, and of our liberty and peace. + +For it is acceptable to God, and well pleasing in His sight, when His +people come willingly in the day of His power (and how shall they not be +willing in the day of His power?) to enter into a religious covenant +with Him, and amongst themselves, whatsoever be the condition of the +people of God, whether in sorrow and humiliation before deliverance, or +in rejoicing and thanksgiving after deliverance. This is it which the +Lord waits for at their hands, which they have been used to perform, and +with which He hath been so well pleased, that it hath been the fountain +of many deliverances and blessings unto them. When a people begin to +forget God, He lifteth up His hand against them, and smiteth them: and +when His people, humbled before Him, lift up their hands, not only in +supplication, but in covenant before the most high God, He is pleased +(such is His mercy and wonderful compassion) first, to lift His hand +unto them, saying, "I am the Lord your God;" as we have it three times +in two verses of the 20th of Ezekiel: and next He stretcheth out His +hand against His enemies and theirs. It is the best work of faith, to +join in covenant with God, the best work of love and Christian +communion, to join in covenant with the people of God; the best work of +the best zeal, to join in covenant for reformation, against the enemies +of God and religion; the best work of true loyalty, to join in covenant +for the preservation of our king and superiors; and the best proof of +natural affection, (and to be without natural affection is one of the +great sins of the Gentiles) to join in covenant for defence of our +native country, liberties and laws: such as from these necessary ends do +withdraw, and are not willing to enter into covenant, have reason to +enter into their own hearts, and to look into their faith, love, zeal, +loyalty, and natural affection. + +As it is acceptable to God, so have we for it the precedent and example +not only of the people of God of old, of the reformed churches of +Germany, and the low countries; but of our own noble and Christian +progenitors in the time of the danger of religion, which is expressed in +the covenant itself. The defect was, they went not on thoroughly to +enter into a solemn covenant, an happiness reserved for this time, which +had they done, the corruptions and calamities of these days might have +been prevented. And if the Lord shall be pleased to move, loose, and +enlarge the hearts of His people in his majesty's dominions to take this +covenant, not in simulation, nor in lukewarmness, as those that are +almost persuaded to be Christians, but as becometh the people of God, it +shall be the prevention of many evils and miseries, and a means of many +and rich blessings, spiritual and temporal, to ourselves, our little +ones, and the posterity that shall come after us, for many generations. + +The near and neighbouring example of the church and kingdom of Scotland, +is in this case worthy of our best observation. When the prelates there +were grown by their rents, and lordly dignities, by their exorbitant +power over all sorts of his majesty's subjects, ministers and others, by +their places in parliament, council, college of justice, exchequer, and +high commission, to a monstrous dominion and greatness, and, like +giants, setting their one foot on the neck of the church, and the other +on the neck of the state, were become intolerably insolent. And when the +people of God, through their oppression in religion, liberties and laws, +and what was dearest unto them, were brought so low, that they choose +rather to die, than to live in such slavery, or to live in any other +place, rather than in their own native country: then did the Lord say, +"I have seen the affliction of My people, and I have heard their +groaning, and am come down to deliver them." The beginnings were small +and contemptible in the eyes of the presumptuous enemies, such as used +to be the beginnings of the greatest works of God; but were so seconded +and continually followed by the undeniable evidences of divine +providence, leading them forward from one step to another, that their +mountain became strong in the end. No tongue can tell what motions +filled the hearts, what tears were poured forth from the eyes, and what +cries came from the mouths of many thousands in that land, when they +found an unwonted flame warming their breasts, and perceived the power +of God, raising them from the dead, and creating for them a new world, +wherein shall dwell religion and righteousness. When they were destitute +both of monies and munition, which, next unto the spirit and arms of +men, are the sinews of war, the Lord brought them forth out of His hid +treasures, which was wonderful in their eyes, and matter of astonishment +to their hearts: when they were many times at a pause in their +deliberations, and brought to such perplexity, that they knew not what +to choose, or to do for prosecuting the work of God, only their eyes +were towards Him; not only the fears and furies, but the plots also and +policies of the adversaries opened the way unto them, their devices were +turned upon their own heads, and served for promoting of the work of +God. The purity of their intentions elevated above base and earthly +respects, and the constant peace of their hearts in the midst of many +dangers, did bear them out against the malicious accusations and +aspersions put upon their actions: all which were sensible impressions +of the good providence of God, and legible characters of His work; which +the church and kingdom of England, exercised at this time with greater +difficulty than theirs, have in part already found; so shall the +parallel be perfected to their greater comfort in the faithful pursuing +of the work unto the end. + +Necessity, which hath in it a kind of sovereignty, and is a law above +all laws, and therefore is said to have no law, doth mightily press the +church and kingdom of Scotland at this time. It is no small comfort unto +them, that they have not been idle, and at ease, but have used all good +and lawful means of supplications, declarations and remonstrances to his +majesty, for quenching the combustion in this kingdom: and after all +these, that they sent commissioners to his majesty, humbly to mediate +for a reconcilement and pacification. But the offer of their humble +service was rejected from no other reason, but that they had no warrant +nor capacity for such a mediation; and that the intermixture of the +government of the church of England, with the civil government of the +kingdom, was such a mystery as could not be understood by them. Although +it be true, which was at that time often replied, that the eighth demand +of the treaty, and the answer given thereunto, concerning the uniformity +of religion, was a sufficient ground of capacity; and the proceedings of +the houses of parliament against episcopal government, as a stumbling +block hindering reformation, and as a prejudice to the civil state, was +ground enough for their information. The commissioners having returned +from his majesty without success, and the miseries of Ireland, and the +distresses of England, and the dangers and pressures of the kingdom of +Scotland, growing to greater extremity; such as were intrusted with the +public affairs of the kingdom, were necessitate, according to the +practice of former times, his majesty having denied a parliament, to +call a convention of the estates, for considering of the present +affairs, and for providing the best remedies: which, immediately upon +their meeting, by the special providence of God, did receive information +of divers treacherous attempts of papists, in all the three kingdoms, as +if they had been called for that effect. And by the same providence, +commissioners were sent from both houses of parliament, to consider with +the estates of the kingdom of Scotland, of such articles and +propositions, as might make the conjunction betwixt the two nations more +beneficial and effectual for the securing of religion and liberty +against papists and prelates, with their adherents. Their consultations +with the commissioners of the General Assembly did in the end bring +forth a covenant, as the only means after all other had been essayed, +for the deliverance of England and Ireland out of the depths of +affliction, preservation of the church and kingdom of Scotland from the +extremity of misery, and the safety of our native king and his kingdoms, +from destruction and desolation. This is the manifold necessity which +nature, religion, loyalty and love hath laid upon them. + +Nor is it unknown in this honourable, reverend and wise audience, what +errors and heresies in doctrine, what superstition and idolatry in +worship, what usurpation and tyranny in government, what cruelty against +the souls and bodies of the saints have been set on foot, exercised and +executed for many generations, and now of late by the Roman church: all +which we hope, through the blessing of God upon this work, shall be +brought to an end. Had the Pope at Rome the knowledge of what is doing +this day in England, and were this covenant written on the plaster of +the wall over against him, where he sitteth, Belshazzar-like in his +sacrilegious pomp, it would make his heart to tremble, his countenance +to change, his head and mitre to shake, his joints to loose, and all his +cardinals and prelates to be astonished. + +When the reformed churches, which by their letters have been exciting us +to Christian communion and sympathy, in this time of the danger of +religion and distress of the godly, shall hear of this blessed +conjunction for uniformity in religion, according to the Word of God, +and the defence thereof, it shall quicken their hearts against the +heaviness of oppressing sorrows and fears; and be no other than a +beginning of a jubilee and joyful deliverance unto them, from the +antichristian yoke and tyranny. + +Upon these and the like considerations, we are very confident that the +church and kingdom of Scotland will most cheerfully join in this +covenant; at the first motion whereof, their bowels were moved within +them. And to give testimony of this our confidence, we who are +Commissioners from the General Assembly, although we have no particular +and express commission for that end (not from want of willingness, but +of foresight) offer to join our hearts and hands unto it, being assured, +that the Lord in His own time will, against all opposition, even against +the gates of hell, crown it with a blessing from heaven. The Word of God +is for it, as you have been now resolved by the consent and testimony of +a reverend assembly of so many godly, learned and great divines. In your +own sense and experience, upon seeking God in private or public, as in +the evening of a well spent Sabbath or day of fast and humiliation, the +bent and inclinations of your hearts will be strongest to go through +with this work. It is a good testimony that our designs and ways are +agreeable to the will of God, if we affect them most when our hearts are +farthest from the world, and our temper is most spiritual and heavenly, +and least carnal and earthly. As the Word of God, so the prayers of the +people of God in all the reformed churches, are for us. That divine +providence also which hath maintained this cause, and supported His +servants in a marvellous manner unto this day, and which this time past +hath kept things in an equal balance and vicissitude of success, will, +we trust, from this day forth, through the weight of this covenant, cast +the balance, and make religion and righteousness to prevail, to the +glory of God, the honour of our king, the confusion of our common +enemies, and the comfort and safety of the people of God; which, may He +grant who is able to do above any thing that we can ask or think. + + + + +[Illustration: Fac-simile of old Title page of following Sermon.] + +_The Heart's Engagement._ + +A + +SERMON + +PREACHED AT + +St. _Margaret's Westminster_, + +At the publick Entering into the + +COVENANT, + +BY + +I. _Some of the Nobility, Knighthood and Gentry._ +II. _Divers Colonels, Officers and Soldiers._ +III. _Those of the_ Scotish _Nation about the City._ +IV. _Many Reverend Divines here residing._ + +September 29th, Anno 1643. + +By the Reverend Mr. Thomas Coleman, one of the Members of the +_Westminster_ Assembly of _Divines_. + +Preached and published according to the several Orders of the +Honourable House of Commons. + +Nehem. x. 28, 29. _The people ... entred into a curse, and into an +oath to walk in God's law,_ &c. + +GLASGOW, +Printed for George Paton, Book-seller in _Linlithgow_. MDCCXLI. + + +THE SOLEMN LEAGUE AND + +COVENANT. + +SERMON AT WESTMINSTER. + +_BY THOMAS COLEMAN._ + +"For who is this, that engaged his heart to approach unto Me, +saith the Lord?"--_Jerem._ xxx. 21. + + +Two things in this clause cause some obscurity: _First_, The uncertainty +of the subject. _Second_, The ambiguity of one phrase. + +1. The uncertainty of the subject, or person of whom the prophet speaks +here: whether of Christ, by way of prophecy, or of some particular +person, by way of story, or indefinitely of every one, by way of duty. + +2. The ambiguity of that phrase, _engaged;_ which, according to the +variety of its signification, is or may be variously rendered. _He +adorned His heart; He applied His heart; He directed His heart; He +engaged His heart._ + +Hereupon the sense becomes various. + +1. Who is he, _viz._ Christ, hath appointed his heart? Can there be +found a parallel to Christ in the world, that hath so given himself up +to God? made Him and His ways his meat and drink, yea more than his +ordinary food? + +2. Who hath fitted and adorned his heart? Is there any that can adorn +and prepare himself to approach unto God, without God? + +3. To omit others of like nature: it may be true, that it is chiefly +spoken of Christ: the titles in the beginning of the verse look this +way; his noble One, his Ruler; but seeing Christ is the head of the +body, and one with His body, it may secondarily, and by way of +communication, be also affirmed of His members; and to them we extend +it. + +The clause therefore seems dependent, and as it is applied to man, hath +reference to that which is an act of God, and seems to be a reason +thereof. "I will cause him," saith God, "to draw nigh, and he then shall +approach; for who is this that hath engaged his heart?" The force of +which inference may look two ways. + +1. Shewing the impossibility in man to begin the action: "I will cause +him to draw nigh; for who is this, that hath engaged his heart?" Where +is the man that can direct his heart, approach to Me of himself, by his +own power? Not any, not one: "Without Me you can do nothing." + +2. Approving the endeavour to continue; I will cause him to draw near, +that he may approach, and stay with Me: he doeth his best, according to +his strength; "he engageth his heart," I will help on with the work; +"for who is this?" Oh this is an excellent one; there are not many so; +that any, that this is so, is beyond expectation, worthy of +commendation. What an one is this? "Who is it that hath engaged," tied, +bound his heart from starting aside like a broken bow, to approach to, +and to continue with Me, saith the Lord? + +In the words (to proceed methodically and clearly) I offer the sum of my +thoughts, to be considered under four general heads, or parts. + + I. The opening of the phrases. + II. The propounding of the point. + III. The viewing of the duty. + IV. The encouragement to the practice. + +In and through these we shall walk, as travellers, who speed their pace +in those fields which yield no novelties, no fruit, no delight, but +where they meet with varieties to delight the senses, fruitful places, +green pastures to refresh themselves and beasts, they rest themselves +and bait: so in some of these we shall only take and offer a taste, on +others insist, as God shall direct; wherein an engagement of the +attentions in the handling to me, may, through God's mercy, beget an +engagement of the heart to God in the applying of them in order. + + +I.--_The opening of the phrases._ + +For the fuller understanding of the prophet's drift, three words or +phrases in this short sentence are a little to be cleared; for it +containeth three parts: 1. An action of piety. 2. The object of this +action. 3. The inquiry into both: and these are expressed in so many +several particles. + +1. The action of piety, engaging the heart. The heart may prove loose +and wandering without an engagement: the engagement may be hypocritical +and sinister, if it be not of the heart; but the one implying stability, +the other sincerity, both together complete it as an action of piety. + +2. The object of this action, "to approach unto Me." Sin may be the +object pursued, and God may be beheld at a distance: in this, we do not +approach; in that, we approach not to God; but either is needful. God +abhors those that approach to sin: He minds not those that look to Him +at their distance: except then thou approach, and approach unto God, thy +endeavour is either cold or cursed. + +3. The inquiry into both, who is this? into the act of engagement, +because it is not usual, into the part engaged, because it is subtile; +and what we seldom see, or groundedly suspect, we have cause to inquire +after. + +Of the first; this engagement is a degree of the heart's motion towards +any object, good and bad; for it was an engagement, though a bad one, +when more than forty men bound themselves with an oath from eating and +drinking, till they had killed Paul. To this degree of engagement we +ascend by these steps, and the heart of man perfects a motion towards +God and good things thus gradually. + +1. By an inclination or hankering, a propensity in the mind to this or +that: this naturally is evil, and to evil; he that follows his +inclination goes wrong, the whole frame of a man's disposition being +continually ill-disposed. It is called in scripture the speech or saying +of the heart, and used indifferently both of good and bad, yet with a +notable mark of diversity in the original, though translations mind it +not. Eight times in the Old Testament is this phrase, "Said in his +heart," used: four times by the wicked, and as oft by the righteous; but +constantly, whensoever a wicked man useth it, as David's fool, Esau, +Haman, Satan, it is in his heart; when a good man, as Hannah, David, it +is to his heart; and teacheth: 1. That the heart and courses of a wicked +man are subject to his inclinations; they dictate to him; they command, +and he obeys. 2. But the inclinations of a good man are subject to him; +he dictates to them, commands them as things subdued, and fit to be kept +under. + +Both these different inclinations, different, I say, in respect of +subject and object, are strengthened with nothing more than the often +reiteration of suitable acts; an evil inclination with evil acts, a good +with good. 1. Sin gathereth strength by frequency of committing, and at +last becomes as natural as meat or sleep. "By following vanity, they +became vain." 2. A good inclination is furthered by good actions; +frequency in performance turns to a habit: therefore the Jews, to +habituate their heart to mourning, do always, for the space of three +days before the memorial of the temple's desolation, in their public +meetings, read chapters of mourning; for (say they) three acts make a +habit. And hereupon it was: that Israel, above and before other nations, +became a blessed people; blessings being even naturalized upon them by +the holiness of the three patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, +immediately succeeding one the other. + +2. By a desire, which is an inclination augmented and actuated, carrying +on the party to the thing desired, grounded on, or inclined by some +external enforcements. This was in Paul, who by that relation to, and +interest that he had in, the Thessalonians, endeavoured abundantly with +much desire to see their face, which put him to the essay once and +again. + +3. A purpose, a determination to effect, to accomplish his desire. I +have purposed, saith David, "that my mouth shall not transgress," which +purposing, before it be taken up, should be well grounded, and, when +taken up, not lightly altered. For see, how a change in such a purpose, +put the apostle to a serious apology; he was minded to have visited +them, he did not; he foresaw they might, they would tax him of +lightness, as either not minding, or not being master of his own +determinations, and so consequently his ministry, and therein the gospel +might be blemished: the fear of which struck his heart, the prevention +of which moved his spirit, that both they might be satisfied and himself +remain without blame. + +4. A resolve, a purpose settled; Daniel was fully resolved, he had laid +this charge upon his heart, that he would not defile himself with the +king's meat. + +5. A tie or obligation, whereby the heart, otherwise shifty, is bound to +the work intended, sometime by a single promise, sometime by an oath or +vow, and sometime more publicly by a solemn covenant. And this last and +highest degree is that which the prophet speaks, at least in this sense +I take it. This is that engagement of soul, whereby a man prevents his +starting aside: and this is that first phrase that was to be opened. + +Of the second; "to approach unto Me." + +This is the object, and this approachment is threefold: 1. In his inward +man. 2. In his outward man. 3. In both. 1. In his inward man; in heart, +by drawing close to God, enjoying a sensible and blessed communion with +Him, which is comfortable in such a degree that, where it is felt, it +needs no bidding to make an engagement. 2. In his outward man, in his +person approaching to God in the practice of all duties commanded; God +in His ordinances is powerfully present, man in their use stands within +this presence. 3. In both, in all his abilities approaching to Him in +managing His holy cause; and therefore holy, because His. God walks in +the midst of His people's armies: when thy sons, O Zion, "are armed +against thy sons," O Greece, "the Lord God is seen over them." These are +those approachings of the saints to their God: the first is their +happiness, the second their duty, the third their honour. It is a happy +thing to enjoy God's comforts in soul; it is our enjoined duty to obey +Him in His ways, and it is an honour to be found standing for the way of +righteousness. + +Of the third. The inquiry, "who is this?" + +Scripture questions are of several uses, hold forth several senses; here +it seems to be an approbation of the action spoken of. Who is this? What +one is this, that so carefully engageth his heart? This is not ordinary +among men, nor of an ordinary degree in man; few move, fewer engage +themselves to move towards God. This approbation hath, 1. Its foundation +in a duty: I approve this engaging, and the man because he engageth. 2. +Its direction from the subject, heart. The engagement of the outward man +may have wrong principles: that it may be right, let the heart, soul, +inward parts, all that is within us be engaged to bless His holy name. +3. Its limitation from the object, to approach unto me: to engage the +heart to sin, to the creature, to vanity, is neither commendable, nor +approvable; but to close with God, to come to, stay with, and act for +Him, this is that which the prophet, and God in the mouth of the prophet +ever approves. And this brings us to, + + +II.--_The propounding of the point, and that in these words._ + +God observes with the eye of approbation, such as engage and tie +themselves to Him; He looks with an approving eye upon this carefulness: +for such an engagement of soul is, 1. Needful. 2. Helpful; needful for +the heart, helpful to our graces. + +The needfulness is evident. The heart is slow and subtile, backward and +deceitful; except it be drawn with the cords of such an engagement, it +puts slowly forward; and when thus drawn, it will fall quickly off. Days +of desolation beget resolves, times of terror produce engagements, which +the heart (the storm past) will wilily and wickedly seek to evade. David +suspected this cozenage in himself, when he cries out, Oh! I have many +good thoughts, but a naughty heart; many holy purposes, but a deceitful +spirit: thou hast cause, as a Creator, not to believe the tender of my +obedience, nor as a just God, the promise of submission; but I call to +Thy mercy to give assistance. "Be surety for Thy servant for good:" for +the performance of all good I promise. And Hezekiah in his sickness was +not without fear of this deceitfulness: "Oh Lord, I am oppressed, +undertake for me;" I shall never keep my word, that word which my lips +have spoken; and I have none dare pass his word for me: "do thou, O +Lord, undertake for me." + +2. The helpfulness is undeniable; a heart from this engagement may fetch +renewed strength continually. This engagement is a buckler of defence to +arm us against Satan's enticement, is armour of proof to withstand the +world's inducement; it makes us without fear or failing stand upon our +own ground, and renew our courage like the eagle. Job was probably +sometimes seduced with such foolish persuasions, to courses not less +foolish, but he yielded not: what helped him? even his engagement: "I +have made a covenant with mine eyes, how then shall I look on a maid?" +Constancy in good is well-pleasing to God; "If any draw back, His soul +hath no pleasure in them." Whatsoever then is needful for it, or helpful +to it, He both prescribes and approves. O let us engage our hearts to +this approachment, a duty enjoined, a sacrifice accepted. + +But there is one scripture that fully showeth the point, and the truth +of it in all particulars. Consider then. Three things may seem necessary +herein to be noted; the act, the approbation, and the reason; and here +we have them all. + +1. The act, engaging; or the persons, the engagers of themselves. Thou +hast avouched, set up God this day to be thy God, not only in thy +conscience by the act of faith, but even by thy mouth thou hast uttered +this, probably in some solemn league and covenant. "Thou hast made to +say:" so much the Hebrew word imports. + +2. The approbation; and God answers thee accordingly, He hath avouched, +set up thee to be His people; particularly to two privileges; 1. To be +His peculiar people, the people of His own proper possession, joined so +high, united so near, that they are admitted to a participation of many +heavenly privileges; the actions of the one being communicated to the +other; man's prayer is called God's, "I will make them glad in the house +of My prayer," God's people called man's, Moses's people, Moses's law: +so in the law of God, and in his law, that is, the righteous man's law. +2. To keep His commands: this seems rather to be a duty than a +prerogative, yet a prerogative it is for a Christian to be holy, +obedient, righteous: both directly, and accidently. 1. Directly; the +scripture teacheth so. The fruit of a Christian's being made free from +sin is unto holiness. "If you will fear the Lord and serve Him" (these +are Samuel's words to the people) "and not rebel:" what then? what shall +we have? "Then shall you and your king continue to follow the Lord." +Solomon, setting down the recompence of a righteous person, saith, his +reward shall be double, in himself, and in his posterity; in himself, +"he shall walk on in his integrity," in his posterity, "they shall be +blessed after him." 2. Accidently: holiness is a privilege, as well as a +duty; it is a reward, a benefit to him who walks therein. It may, and +oft doth daunt their persecutors, that otherwise would have taken away +their lives. The heathens observe that the majestic presence of a prince +hath dashed the boldness, and so prevented the execution of some +villanous attempt by a base traitor against their persons: and +Christians know that the power of holiness is able to dazzle the +proudest spirits. Herod, saith the text, "feared John," and so a long +while did him no hurt. And the emperor Adrian ceased his persecution +against the Christians of his time, when he understood of their holiness +of life. So true it is both ways, that the punishment of sin is sin, and +the reward of the command is the command. + +Both these privileges are again repeated, and further are evidenced in +the following verse; "Thou art His peculiar people, therefore will He +make thee high above all nations, in praise, name and honour, of more +esteem than any; and, thou keepest His commandments, and so He advanceth +thee to be a holy people unto the Lord thy God:" all this evidenceth +God's approbation of an engaging heart. + +3. The reason and ground of God's approving this act, they are two. 1. +Because the matter or duties, to which by this bond the heart is tied, +are such as God directly observes with an approving eye. The particulars +are three here specified, and all elsewhere expressly subjected to this +eye of God. _1st._ Thou obligest thyself to walk in His ways, in the +practice of all the duties of the second table; and upon such as depart +from evil, and do good, upon such righteous ones, the eyes of the Lord +are fastened, not His omniscient eye, but His protecting, blessing eye, +that eye the seeing whereof is of the same temper with the open ear +following: "His eye is upon the righteous, and His ear open to their +cry;" that eye which stands in opposition to His face, which is against +the wicked. _2d._ And to observe His ordinances and judgments, +reverently to practise all the duties of the first table to God, and to +such also God casts His eye of respect: "The eye of the Lord is upon +those that fear Him, and that hope in His mercy." _3d._ And to hearken +to the means of both, to hear His voice: "When I counsel thee and +instruct thee in the way that thou shouldst go, Mine eye is upon thee, +both to keep thee to it, and to bless thee in it." 2. Because this +engagement is a means to accomplish His promise: because thou hast +avouched God, God hath avouched thee, and will do as He hath said, and +again, as He hath said; the repetition whereof seems to argue +contentedness in God, in that, by this avouchment, a way was opened for +the accomplishment of His promise. "God is well pleased for His +righteousness sake," delights, when He can evidence Himself to be +righteous and just, for the law and words of His mouth He will magnify +and make honourable in the faithfulness of their accomplishment. Mercy, +the acts of mercy please Him. God finds in a righteous man rest of +spirit, because by him He sends down a full influence of His favour upon +the world. "If the world knew (say some Hebrew doctors,) of what worth a +righteous man was, they would hedge him about with pearls." His life is +beneficial to all, even in some sort to God Himself; for by him mercy is +shewn to the world: his death therefore is of great consequence; a +greater affliction than those curses mentioned; "I will make thy plagues +wonderful; thy heavens shall be brass, they shall distil no dew nor +rain to water the earth; but I will do a marvellous thing, a marvellous +and strange, a good man, a wise man shall be taken away; and I can send +no more blessings upon you:" There remains not a heart engaged, to whom +I delight to approach; whiles such were, mine eye was satisfied with +seeing good, my heart with doing good; now the one is removed, the other +stopped. O where is he that engageth his heart to approach to his God! + + +III.--_The examining of the Duty._ + +This engagement being thus approved, and therefore to be entered on; let +us a little examine the duty, and mind two things. 1. What particulars +do engage us, by what acts or thoughts doth the heart become engaged? +And, 2. What hinders this engagement, and stops our entrance thereupon? + +I. Several and many ways doth the heart become engaged to God: no +consideration can enter our hearts, no occurrent happen in our lives, +but it offers reasons enforcing this duty. We are engaged to God by our +being, by our receiving, by our doing: mind either, and acknowledge +thyself engaged. + +1. Our being what we are, engageth us: _1st._ That we are creatures, and +so not forgotten in the everlasting night of a not-being: that we are +men, and not beasts; that we are Christians, and not heathens; all are +engagements. _2d._ But our being thus and thus; men of gifts and parts: +placed in such callings; qualified with such endowments: interested in +such privileges: these are engagements indeed. + +2. What we have. _1st._ Every thing we have received binds us; all the +acts of God's providence over us; all the effects of God's goodness to +us: health, food, callings, trades, friends, families, clothes, the +service of the creatures; sun, rain, fruits of the earth: all, all these +are bonds. _2d._ But especially, our more peculiar favours; inward +experience of His love, and fruition of soul-communion with Him: Oh, +who would not be engaged for this! + +3. What we do, even our own actions become our obligations; and that +which comes from us binds us. _1st._ Our feeling prayers. Who dare +practise what he prays against? A prayer against the power of sin, +obliges to walk in the power of that prayer; neither will any lightly +omit what but late as an evil he hath confessed to God. _2d._ But +especially (which is our present work) our solemn and serious vows, +protestations, promises; our covenant in baptism, our particular +covenants entered into, upon the apprehension of some approaching +calamity, upon a day of humiliation, at a piercing sermon, or +soul-searching prayer before a sacrament, or the like. If we have spoken +with our lips, we cannot go back, we are engaged. + +II. As for such things that may hinder, we should both note and avoid. +1. Ignorance: "If thou knewest the gift of God," saith Christ to the +Samaritan woman: want of praying comes from want of knowing. "Have you +received the Holy Ghost?" was Paul's question, but the reply was, that +could not be; we "have not so much as heard, whether there be a Holy +Ghost, or no." Have you engaged your souls in a solemn league? Let this +be our querry, and the answer will be, We have not so much as heard, +whether there be such a duty, or no. Ignorance hinders this bond. 2. +Wretched profaneness, which slights and sets at nought all duties, +ordinary, extraordinary; such mind sin, and the fulfilling thereof; and +bind themselves to mischief with cords of vanity; whilst in the mean +time they are contented to sit loose from God. 3. Wicked policy, both to +avoid the taking, and to evade the keeping: scruples of conscience shall +be pretended by such as know not what conscience means. Scripture shall +be alleged, by such as are little versed therein; this sentence shall be +thus explained: this releasement shall be thus pretended: all is but +seemingly to stop the mouth of conscience, that saith, they must both +make and pay vows unto God. Yet the wilfully ignorant will neglect it; +the wretchedly profane will contemn it; the wickedly politic will avoid +it; so the heart shall be left to its own swing, open to all corruption +that breaks in like a flood. For the prevention whereof, let us come on +to + + +IV.--_Encouragements to the practice._ + +The point thus propounded, and in several particulars described, wherein +and whereby the soul may be engaged; there is nothing remaining, but the +practice of it, and that is yours. Up then, and be doing; disoblige +yourselves, and be no longer servants to the world, to sin, to obey +either in the lusts thereof; but be ye bound to serve righteousness, and +the God of righteousness; for His service is perfect freedom. In this +encouragement to this work, that I might do as much as I can, in this +little time granted, and gained for preparation and delivery; I would +advise, exhort, resolve, and so prevent irreverence, backwardness, and +doubting; that neither the ignorant may profane, nor the refractory +contemn, nor the scrupulous question this holy ordinance of God, as +unholy needless, ambiguous. Let this encouragement then be received in +words: 1. Cautionary. 2. Hortatory. 3. Satisfactory. + +1. _Cautionary._--Let this great work be done judiciously, cautiously, +and as an ordinance of God. Take we heed therefore, 1. To the manner. 2. +To the matter. 3. To the consequence. + +1. _To the manner._ See that it be done; 1. Cheerfully. 2. Religiously. + +_First_, Cheerfully and willingly; for so did the people of Israel in +their covenanting with God: "They swore unto the Lord with a loud voice, +with shoutings, and trumpets, and music, and they rejoiced because of +the oath." God loves a cheerful giver, His heart is toward those that +willingly offer themselves to the work of the Lord. And here, let me +not conceal the mercy of the Lord to us, in the work now in hand; for +why should not the Lord have the glory of all His favours? God hath +directed our hearts to this duty, cheered up our affections to this +engagement. Who almost sees not His hand in all this? This cheerfulness +and forwardness I now call for, I did, I do, I hope, I shall see. + +1st. _I did see._ Which of us, brethren, hath not his heart yet +rejoicing, but even to think upon this work, this last Monday in this +place? Here was cheerfulness: who was not glad to see it? Who was not +encouraged to it? Here was a willing people freely offering themselves +to be bound to the Lord. Here was rejoicing; 1. In the performance: The +like duty was never seen in our days within this land. It was, I am +persuaded, the very birth-day of this kingdom, born anew to comfort and +success; our hearts were then so elevated, they are not settled yet. 2. +For the performance of such a duty, in such a manner, by such persons. +You might here have seen the Hon. House of Commons, unanimously, with +hearts and hands lifted up to the heavens, swearing to the Most High +God. Here might you have seen our dear brethren, the noble and learned +Commissioners of Scotland, willingly coming into this covenant of truth, +as the representatives of, and a pledge for the whole kingdom. Here +might you have seen the grave and reverend Assembly of Divines, +forwardly countenancing others, willingly submitting themselves to this +bond of the Lord. What I then saw, and now rehearse, most of you can +attest. Ask your fathers, consult with the aged of our times, whether +ever such a thing were done in their days, or in the days of their +fathers before them. + +2d, _I do see;_ and believe the like now: I have ground to be persuaded, +that you also come with alacrity to this service. 1. The order for the +taking, honours you with this, that you were desirous of yourselves, +without compulsion, to take this upon you: blessed therefore be you of +the Lord, and blessed be the Lord for you. 2. The fulness of this +present assembly, called only for this end, for this duty. The nature of +your persons. Nobles, knights, gentlemen, submit themselves to the yoke +of the Lord. Colonels, captains, officers in the army, soldiers; even +these also stand not off from, but close to, and for this work in hand. +Those of the Scots nation within this city, by their willingness, do +give a check to this cavil raised by some, who have nothing else to say, +yet say this, perhaps the kingdom of Scotland will not take it. We can +instance in none, none that I know here. The ministers of the Lord, that +have refuged themselves to this little sanctuary, both increase and +honour the number of them that swear, their own callings, and +themselves. All these, as they have forwardly offered, so doubtless will +earnestly repair, in their lot, the breaches made in the Lord's house. +Here is cheerfulness. + +3d, I hope, I shall see and hear, the next Lord's day, or the next +convenient time, all our people readily coming into this bond; that so, +both English and Scots, parliament and assembly, nobility and city, may +all rejoice together. + +_Second_, Religiously: godly works must be done in a godly manner, that +the act done for God's glory may be sanctified with God's presence. With +what serious humiliation, and hearty prayers did Nehemiah begin this +duty? What a number of able men did Josiah collect together? And how +reverently did they read in the Scriptures, and speak of the nature of +the covenant? Both Nehemiah by praying, and Josiah by reading, desired +in this holy business to approve themselves followers of holiness in the +sight of God. And at the last taking in this place, who was not touched +with that feeling prayer, made by that man of God[8]; that godly +exhortation, which followed from another[9]; that pithy relation by +that man of name[10]; that soul-affecting thanksgiving, wherewith a +godly doctor closed the day[11]? and, that no less piety and love of God +might appear in you, after you resolved upon the work; you desired that +the ordinance might be sanctified to you by the word of God and prayer; +you moved me to this employment, and got it ordered accordingly: and +now, I doubt not, but in the action, you will do it with such reverence +of God's majesty, such awfulness of heart, that in lifting up your hands +to the most high God, He may be pleased to accept the sacrifice, and +make it comfortable. Thus to the manner. + +II. To the matter. For the matter, that it be lawfully warranted by the +Word of God. To examine these particularly, in all and several parts +thereof, were the work of a volume, not of one sermon; that will be done +by others: but to do something, and what we may for this time; it is not +difficult to parallel from Scripture this covenant in all the parts of +it. The lawfulness of covenanting, I suppose not questionable, as a +furtherance and help to a spiritual progress; we find it oft used: the +New Testament affords but rare instances, the church then in its infancy +having little occasion, and as little need of such combining, fasting +and days of prayer, which are of the same nature, we find often; and the +angel "lift up his hand, (a covenanting gesture) and swore by Him that +liveth," (a covenanting act,) but the Old Testament is full. Take then +this as granted, and come to the particular materials, and in every +part, for every article, we can find an instance. The articles in this +covenant are six: the preamble sets forth, 1. The occasion; their aim at +God's glory, their enemies aim at their ruin. 2. The pattern; the +commendable practice of those kingdoms, and the example of churches in +all ages. The close containeth their resolution against all impediments +that may either stop the taking, or disable the keeping of this league, +their own sins. The body of the covenant contains the articles; the +lawfulness of which seems thus to be warranted. + +The first is the reformation of the false, and the preservation of the +true worship of God, and the uniting of all the kingdoms in that truth +thus reformed. Such a covenant took Asa, and his people. The first is +for the reformation of religion decayed. He purged away all the dross, +and removed all the defects. He repaired the altar of the Lord, the main +part of their ceremonial covenant. Then for the uniting of the kingdoms +in the embracing of this truth. Asa gathered all Judah and Benjamin, +this was his own people, the subjects of one kingdom; and with them the +strangers, that is, the inhabitants of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon, +these were the people of another land. So here are the persons +covenanting, the matter covenanted to. The persons, the subjects, two +several kingdoms; the matter, reformation, and to seek the God of their +fathers; to this they all swear, like as the inhabitants of England, +Scotland and Ireland, meet all in one duty, even a covenant, and that to +one end, to seek and serve God in the purity of His ways, after the +purity of His will; to this, as Asa and his people, we swear. + +The second is the extirpation of idolatry and wickedness, and all things +contrary to truth, not according to godliness, the proper and perpetual +matter of all covenants. So did Asa, so did Joash, so did Josiah, so did +Nehemiah. 1. Asa took away all abominations. He was impartial, sparing +neither sin, place, nor person: not sin, he removed all abominations; +not place, from all places, towns of his inheritance, and of his +conquest; not person, he deposed his mother, or rather grandmother from +her state for her idolatry. 2. Joash, or his covenanters. Indeed the +people of the land, (for such usually are most zealous) they ruined the +altars, house and all. They broke down all the monuments of idolatry, +all to pieces, thoroughly, to some purpose, priest and all. They slew +Matthan priest of Baal with the sword. 3. Josiah purged the whole +kingdom: and Nehemiah with zeal, extirpated the strange wives Here is a +covenant that rooted out idolatry, popery, the Baalistical prelate +Matthan, and all his prelatical faction the Chemarim, and all this, for +this end, that the Lord might be one, and His name one. + +The third is, the preservation of the liberties of the kingdom and the +king, for matters merely civil. Such was that covenant that Jehoiada +established, after their engagements for spirituals to God. He made a +covenant between the king and people, that he should preserve their +liberties, they his authority, and both each other mutually. + +The fourth, for the discovery and punishment of malignants, that +increase or continue our division. Without a covenant such a discovery +did Mordecai make of Bigthan and Teresh, the king's eunuchs. Such a +discovery made the Jews of Sanballat, and his fellows to Nehemiah. +Josiah was not without his informers. But with a covenant was the +punishment of such varlets settled. Whosoever would not seek the Lord +God of their fathers, should be slain without sparing, be he whom he +would be, small or great, man or woman. For why should not every one +value the public above the private, the common good before his own? + +The fifth, the preservation of the union, and of the pacification +between the two kingdoms. This is the matter of all civil leagues. Such +a league made Isaac with Abimelech, Jacob with Laban, David with Hiram. +But chiefly such a pacification doth God promise to make between Israel +and Judah. They should both live under one king, so do the English and +Scots: and both dwell in one land, so do the English and Scots: they +shall have the same ministry and religion; so do labour the English and +Scots: and a pacification will God make between them, and that by +covenant, and such a covenant, as should never be forgotten or broken; +such a thing are we doing now, and then God's sanctuary shall be placed +among us, the sanctuary of His presence, service, protection, which is +our expectation and our hope. + +Lastly, The firm adhering to this covenant, and continuance in the same +notwithstanding all opposition, contradiction, dissuasion to the +contrary whatsoever. All the people stood to the covenant. This was +Josiah's care not only for himself, but for his people; "He made all +that were found in Judah and Benjamin to stand to it; so all his days +they turned not back from the Lord God of their Fathers." This is the +covenant, and this is a general view of the general matter; this is +according to the aim of those that made it, take it, swear to it. Who +but an atheist can refuse the first? who but a papist the second? who +but an oppressor, or a rebel, the third? who but the guilty, the fourth? +who but men of fortune, desperate cavaliers, the fifth? who but light +and empty men, unstable as water, the sixth? In a word, the duty is +such, that God hath ordained; the matter is such, as God approveth; the +taking such, as God observeth; and the consequences such, as God hath +promised. And in them stands my third caution, to which I now come. + +III. To the consequences. For the consequences, and issues that do or +must follow upon the taking, be also cautelous; take heed that after +this heart-engagement to God, none start back like a broken bow. See +that you neither, 1. Falsify the oath; or, 2. Profane the oath. + +I. Do not falsify the oath, making the actions of the outward man +contrary to this action of the heart. An oath is one of the two +immutable things, wherein it is impossible that God should lie; not +fitting, that man should. The people's forementioned example teaches +constancy, they stood to it. The covenants ordinary epithet +[everlasting] implies continuance: neither can God, nor should man play +the children, say and unsay. All our covenants in Him should be yea; not +yea, and nay. If we prove loose, we prove false, and lie unto God that +made us. Take heed to your covenant. This stone, these walls, these +pillars, these seats shall witness against you, that ye denied Him: to +falsify the engagement, is to deny our God; His power, His revenging +justice, His word, His presence, and the like; if you wilfully falsify +this oath wherewith you are bound, as much as in you lies, you make God +any thing but a God. Keep truth and fidelity for ever. + +II. Do not profane it by a slight esteem, by an irreverent taking, by an +unholy life. + +_First_, By a slight esteem, as a matter of no moment. Can that be a +trifle, which is the fruit of the judicious consultations of the agents +of both kingdoms, as the only means to perpetuate the union? Can that be +a trifle, which was produced by such, who had merely the glory of God +before their eyes as conducing much thereto? Can that be a trifle, which +is published as the main and sole preventive of all the bloody plots of +God's enemies against the truth? Can that be a trifle, which is now +cleaved to as a means more effectual, and a degree above supplications, +remonstrances, protestations, to preserve ourselves, and our religion? +All this and more the preamble speaks. + +_Second_, By irreverent taking. It was resolved on after mature +deliberation. It is a lifting up of the hand to the most high God, and a +swearing by His name, and God's name must not be taken in vain: such +will God not hold guiltless. But of this before. + +_Third_, By an unholy life. Such a thing would mar all we have done; +though defiled with former sins, yet now sin no more: our covenant +forbids it: our state now stands thus. Either by our sins we shall make +a breach into our covenant, or by our covenant make a breach from our +sins. In the close of the covenant, we resolve on the endeavour that +this covenant may have its desired fruit. We desire to be humbled for +our own sins, the land's sins, undervaluing the gospel, neglecting the +power, and purity of it, no endeavour to receive Christ into our hearts, +no care to walk worthy of Him in our lives. Such and the like sins a +godly covenanter must shun, lest he profane it. Let us then prize it as +an effectual means of good, take it with a reverend fear of God, honour +it in holiness of life for ever. Let us both verify it, and sanctify it +by continuing to stand in it, by endeavouring to live by it to God's +glory, that this taken covenant may be for the name, the honour, the +praise of the great Jehovah for ever. + +II. _Hortatory._ These cautions being observed; come all, and let us +enter into an everlasting covenant with the Lord; come on, and let us +engage our hearts unto our God: we have a propensity to keep off; let a +covenant keep us close: our hearts would be wandering; let a covenant +bind them. Will you trust yourselves without a tie? Do you know +yourselves? Come to this work, with a heart, with a heart lifted up, as +well as a hand, as high as a hand; "Let us lift up our hearts to our +hands;" let the ardency of our affection raise up our spirit to meet the +Lord, to whom we adjoin ourselves for ever. To you I cry, to whom the +order speaks, to every one of you I call, come engage your hearts. + +_First_, Nobles, both greater and lesser, think not the duty below you, +too mean for you. There is but one way to heaven for all. Scorn not to +join with inferiors in this work. In Christ there is neither male nor +female, no respect of persons. The same way that the soul of the poorest +is refreshed, is the soul of the richest. Poor men pray, and princes +must pray; common men humble their souls, and repent, and crowned kings +must do so too. The people of God, they walk aright, and all men, great +and small, must follow them alike: the eye of every ordinary man must be +towards the Lord. So as the tribes of Israel are, and the same way must +Tyre and Sidon look, though they be very wise. No largeness of parts, +greatness of place, eminency in gifts, of wisdom, learning, wit, not +amplitude of rule, nor any high thoughts can exempt; but he must subject +himself to the condition and courses of the lowest sort. Heaven regards +not the goodliness of the person, looks not as man looks; for God +regards the heart. + +_Second_, Soldiers, for you also are engagers. This says, you have a +noble pattern; but I hope I may say, you outwrite your copy. They came +to John Baptist, and to the place, where he baptized. You come to the +presence of God, and the place, where the heart is to be engaged. They +came to be directed what to do; you to do what has been directed. Ride +you on prosperously in this righteous truth. It lies mainly upon you to +be holy, yea, more than upon others. Your adventures are more hazardous, +your dangers more probable; yea, your deaths perhaps more near. +Therefore, + +1. You must remove from you wickedness, and wicked men. Wickedness from +your hearts, wicked men from your armies. Let both your persons be holy, +and your companies holy. God Himself commands the former, the prophet +from God the latter. "When the host goeth forth, then, and then chiefly, +thou shalt keep thee from every evil thing." When Judah's king marched +out, assisted with Israelitish auxiliaries, which were idolaters; let +not (saith the prophet) "the men of Israel go with thee, for God is not +with Israel:" if thou do, thou shalt not prosper. If there were no evil +sin in your hearts, no evil man in your hosts, God would be with you, +with a shout, even the Lord with the sound of a trumpet. + +And 2. Your success depends on God's presence. When thou seest +multitudes of armies encircling thee, fear not, for God is with thee, +and God is with thee to save thee; He walks with thee to fight for thee, +and to prosper thee. We shall be cast back, yea, quite off, if God go +not forth with our armies; or, in our armies; the word bears either: +when God goes not in our armies, rules not in our hearts, lives, +conversations, by holiness; then He goes not forth with our armies by +victory and success. + +3. The want of godly agents, to manage a godly cause, a great +lamentation. "Help, Lord, save, O God, for the godly fail, and the +faithful cease from among men:" were there any such in being, they would +bear rule with God, and be faithful for the saints, their persons and +prayers would gain prevalency with God, their endeavours and constancy +would show fidelity to the saints, and then in Judah, our land, would +things go well: and as once Ezekiel of the scarcity of fit governors to +rule, so we of fit men to fight, when corruption and looseness hath so +possessed the hearts, and lives of our men of war, that there remains no +sanctified and godly man to make a soldier; "This is a lamentation, and +shall be for a lamentation." + +4. What ground have we to expect good? When the sons of darkness go to +cast out the prince of darkness, is this possible? Can Satan cast out +Satan? It is a satisfactory answer, that we rest in, and stops the +mouths of all not incurably blinded, when we hear of protestations, and +promises to maintain the protestant religion and laws of the land; when +we see, that the effecting of the one is by the sword of papists, of the +other, by the hand of delinquents; except we should think, that man can +(as God) work happy ends by contrary means. For we say, how can Satan +cast out Satan? So to ourselves, 'tis not very likely, that, if Satan +keep the hold he hath of our souls, you should dispossess him of that +strong hold he hath of our land. But you know so much, and therefore by +engaging your heart this day to God you first endeavour to expel Satan +out of your own consciences; and then shall you see clearly to drive him +from our kingdom. + +_Third_, Our brethren of Scotland, come you, and enter into this sure +covenant. Lay the foundation of such an eternal league and peace, that +the sun shall never see broken: all your countrymen, your kingdom are +not here. Let your forwardness to this work tell us, what they would do, +if they were. Some having nothing else to say, yet cannot withhold to +question, whether the Scots will enter into it or no? As the question is +without any ground, so shall it be without any other answer for the +present, than this; all of that nation in town have been ready to this +great work. Can you instance in any that have been backward to swear +unto the Lord? If in none, then put away prejudicate thoughts, and +entertain in their place earnest desires, that this covenant now by both +kingdoms entered into, may be like Ezekiel's sticks, which resembled the +divided houses of Judah and Israel; which, as the prophet held them, +became one in his hand. So this national covenant taken into the hand of +God's merciful approbation, may this day, this year become one, and for +ever remain one: so that (as Israel and Judah after this typical union +in two sticks) England and Scotland after this religious union in one +covenant, may for ever be one people in this island of Great Britain; +and that one king may continue king to them both; and that henceforth +they may no more be two peoples, nor divided into kingdoms; that our +religion be corrupted no more, as of late; but being cleansed, we may be +the Lord's people, and He may be our God for ever: that Jesus Christ may +bear rule, and we both may have one ministry, and enjoy that truth, +which Christ, when He ascended up on high, gave as a gift to men, during +our days, and the days of our posterity; we, and our sons, and our sons' +sons, from this time forth, and for evermore: that the Lord would plant +His sanctuary among us, and make these two people His dwelling-place +continually: that this covenant may be a covenant of peace, and a +covenant of truth, and a covenant for everlasting. And let all that +desire it, daily pray for it, and now express it, and with cheerfulness +of heart say, Amen, Amen. + +_Fourth_, You, my brethren of the ministry, your hearts are to be +engaged too, that you also may gain God by the engagement: be not you +behind the very forwardest of the Lord's people; you are not an +inconsiderable party in this land. The joy and happiness of Israel was +because of the Levites that waited, that were diligent in their duties, +and diligently attended upon the Lord. "I will cause the horn of Israel +to flourish, saith God:" by what means? "I will give thee, Ezekiel, an +open mouth." That God may give you a heart to teach knowledge, come, +engage your hearts as a gift to God. O, saith Moses, "that all the +Lord's people were prophets!" O, say we, that all this land's people had +prophets, but prophets of the Lord, that might feed them with wisdom and +understanding, that they all might know the Lord, from the greatest to +the least of them! But ah? Lord God, the eye of this kingdom is +distempered, dim, and dark; and then how great is this darkness! our +prophets have prophesied lies, and our priests have pleaded for Baal, +and they have rejected the word of the Lord; and what wisdom is in them? +Instead of standing for God, they have stood against Him; and instead of +being the best, they are become the basest: the prophet that teacheth +lies, he is the tail. If God should come, as once, to seek for a man, +that should stand in the gap, and make up the breach; among these He +would find the fewest: in this respect our state may be like that which +we find described. Christ comes to make a perfect description of His +church, and so consequently, a comfortable expression of Himself to His +church: and whereas the eyes are the chiefest seat of beauty, and +therefore likeliest to be stood upon, he begins thus. "Turn away thine +eyes from me, for they have overcome me." By eyes, understand the +ministry; I come to speak comfortable things to My people, but set away +the ministers out of My sight, for they have overcome My patience, and +filled Me with fury: now these being removed, the description doth +lovingly go on. Thy hair, thy young professors, are like a flock of +goats; thy teeth, thy civil officers, like a flock of sheep; thy +temples, thy ordinary and common Christians. All right but the eyes, the +eyes I cannot endure. But let none of us provoke this complaint, nor +hold off any longer from the Lord that invites. What say you? Are you +willing to this engagement? Will you bind yourselves to the Lord? Let me +extend my speech to all, and dispatch the remains of this point, and my +meaning thus: that you may be encouraged to engage, consider two things. + +_First_, The seasonableness. + +_Secondly_, The success of such engagements. + +_First_, The seasonableness: there is a time for all purposes, and every +word and action is beautiful in his own time. A public engagement is +then seasonable, 1. When a land hath been full of troubles: God by such +troubles prepares a people for Him in this duty. "I will cause you to +pass under the rod, and so I will bring you into the bond of the +covenant." And we know, we feel God hath chastised us sore of late; but +in them He hath not given us over to death, that by them He might +prepare us for Himself. When a land hath been full of corruptions, and a +shrewd decay hath been in spirituals: by a covenant hath such a people +recovered themselves, and regained their God. After the great apostasy +by Athaliah, Jehoiada renewed their interest by a covenant. When +Manasses and his son had suffered destruction from God, and advanced +idolatry with or above God; Josiah purged all by a covenant. Our decays +are evident, our corruptions destructive; our covenant therefore +seasonable. Come, let us engage our hearts to approach to God. 3. When +the enemy begins to fall, and God begins to shine upon His own. Asa +returning from a victory, called his land to a covenant. When Athaliah +was slain, the league was sworn, by Joash and his kingdom. Since this +motion of a covenant is come among us, God hath, as it were, begun to +draw near, in the siege of Gloucester raised, in the success at Newbery, +gained. God is worming out His and our adversaries, which He will do by +little and little, till they be consumed. The covenant is seasonable. + +_Second_, The success. Come and see the works of the Lord, what wonders +He hath wrought, when a people hath thus bound themselves to be His. 1. +A king injuriously put from his right by an usurping hand, after such a +covenant was re-established, "He sat him down on the throne of the +kings." 2. A land miserably put from its peace, after such a covenant, +was re-settled, peace was re-obtained; and that as a fruit of prayer, +and so acknowledged, "Israel had sworn, and sought God; God was found of +them: and the Lord gave them rest round about." 3. Religion craftily, +and wickedly put from its purity after such a covenant, was reformed; +after such a reformation continued. The engagement being made, "all +Josiah's days they returned not back from the Lord God of their +fathers." 4. Rebels and rebellion, basely and bloodily backed and +managed against the Lord and His ways, against His people and their +practices; after such a covenant, have been overthrown and subdued, "I +will bring you into the bond of the covenant." Then I will sever from +among you the rebels; I will chase them from their own land, and hinder +that they shall not enter into the land of Israel. The Lord give this +success concerning Ireland, sever out the rebels there from true +subjects; chase them from their own land; and yet keep them from ever +entering into our land, the land of the inheritance of the Lord. + +Now these successful effects of covenanting well minded, + +_First_, May hint to us a satisfactory reason, in case peace comes not +presently. God hath some more adversaries to overthrow, to worm out; His +sword hath not eaten flesh enough; neither are His arrows drunk with +blood yet; with the blood of such earthly men, whom He hath appointed to +destruction. The hearts of the Philistines were so hardened, that they +never sought after peace, "For it came of the Lord, to the intent that +they might be utterly destroyed." Who knows, whether our peace hath been +denied; our propositions cast out; our treaties fruitless, for such an +end as this? It was of the Lord, who hath a purpose to destroy more. God +lays afflictions on His people, and they continue upon them; but in the +mean space to quiet their spirits, He teacheth them out of His law, that +these troubles must stay only "till a pit be digged for the wicked." + +_Second_, May encourage us to go on. You have now armour of proof, such +armour as is not ordinary, armed with a covenant: Go, saith the angel to +Gideon, in this thy might. Go (say I, to every one) in this thy might, +the strength of this thy covenant, and the effect will be such, as is +not ordinary. When the Philistines perceived that the Israelites had +brought the ark of the covenant into the battle, they cried out, "Woe +unto us; for it hath not been so heretofore: woe unto us; who shall +deliver us out of the hands of these mighty gods?" When your enemies +shall perceive, that you come armed with the armour of a covenant with +God, I hope they, struck with amazement, shall cry, "Woe unto us; we +were never so opposed before: woe unto us; who shall deliver us out of +the power of this mighty prevailer?" If it will thus daunt, take it with +you, be strong. Again, I say, Go in the might thereof, and God shall +prosper thee for ever. + +III. _Satisfactory._ According to the condition of the person, such is +the nature of the objection. One out of the malignity of his spirit, +cavils against the work; another out of tenderness of conscience, +scruples the taking. I shall briefly touch upon one or two, and wind up +all in a few words. The queries I have met with, are such as these: two +objections when I was designed to this service, were sent me in writing, +which, when thoroughly viewed, I perceived nothing at all to concern our +case, or covenant. + +_Obj._ 1. Whether by any law, divine or human, may reformation of +religion be brought in by arms? _Ans._ 1. What is this at all to the +covenant, where there is no mention of arms at all? 2. What is this to +our present condition, where reforming by arms is not at all the +question? For if reformation of religion be the case of our affairs; +then either the parliament are they that do it, or the cavaliers: not +the cavaliers, for they are on the defensive: witness all their +declarations. Not the parliament, for then the cavaliers will be found +fighters against religion, and resisters of God. 3. I answer negatively, +it is not. The sword is not the means which God hath ordained to +propagate the gospel: "Go and teach all nations;" not, go and subdue all +nations, is our Master's precept. + +_Obj._ 2. Whether to swear to a government that shall be, or to swear +not to dissent from such a future government, be not to swear upon an +implicit faith? _Ans._ 1. This is nothing to the covenant, neither can I +see upon what ground any should raise such an impertinent scruple. 2. It +is, he that so swears, swears upon an implicit faith: for one reason +against the articles of the prelates was, that they forced us to swear +to the homilies that shall be set out. But these things are extravagant. + +Other objections by word of mouth have been propounded, some whereof I +will here touch upon. + +_Obj._ 1. One would make a stand at the phrase, [in our callings,] as if +some politic mystery were therein involved, and would have it changed, +[according to our callings, or so far forth as they extend.] There is an +identity in the phrase, an action enjoined to be done in such a place, +every corner, as far as that place extends, is that place, and no other. +All is one. + +_Obj._ How if the parliament should hereafter see a convenience in +prelacy for this kingdom, were not this oath then prejudicial, either to +the parliament's liberty, or kingdom's felicity? _Ans._ This objection +supposes, + +_First_, That the most wicked antichristian government may be a lawful +government in point of conscience. + +_Second_, That it is possible, that this prelatical government may be +convenient for a state or kingdom. When as 1. They have been burdensome +in all ages; what opposites in England have they been to our kings, till +their interests were changed? 2. All reformed religions in the world +have expelled them, as incompatible with reformation. 3. They have set +three kingdoms together by the ears, for the least, and worst of causes, +which now lie weltering in their own blood, ready to expire. 4. +Experience now shows, there is no inconvenience in their want; either in +Scotland, or in England. + +_Obj._ But what, if the exorbitances be purged away, may not I, +notwithstanding my oath, admit of a regulated prelacy? _Ans._ 1. We +swear not against a government that is not. 2. We swear against the +evils of every government; and doubtless many materials of prelacy must +of necessity be retained, as absolutely necessary. 3. Taking away the +exorbitances, the remaining will be a new government, and no prelacy. + +_Obj._ For the discovery of all malignants, all that have been; whether, +if I have a friend, that hath been a malignant, and is now converted, am +I bound to discover him? _Ans._ This his malignity, was either before +the covenant, or since; if before, no. For then this league had no +being, and a _non-ens_ can have no contrariety. If since, the discovery +must be at the first appearance of malignity, whilst he is so. + +_Obj._ What if one make a party to uphold prelacy, whilst it stands by +law, must I oppose him, or discover him by virtue of this oath? Doth the +oath bind me to oppose legal acts? _Ans._ i. Quer. Whether there be any +particular law for prelacy? 2. Quer. Whether the making a party be +legal? 3. Quer. Whether any thing, the extirpation of which is sworn by +an ordinance of parliament, can be said to stand by law? + +These are some queries I have met with. I heartily wish that the same +tenderness of conscience in all things may be seen, which if not, it +will hardly be called a scruple of tenderness, but a cavil of malignity. +What now remains but only prayers, that the great God of our judgments +and consciences, would so clear and satisfy our souls in these leagues +and bonds, that without reluctancy we may all swear to God, and, having +sworn, we may have a care to keep the oath inviolable; that as once +Israel, so all England may rejoice because of the oath: and God may be +established, and His kingdom settled; that His presence may dwell among +men, and His protection among the sons of men; that He may be near in +our covenanting, found in our prayers, and give us rest; and that we +being engaged, may live to Him, and not to others, henceforth and for +ever. + + + + +THE SOLEMN LEAGUE AND COVENANT: + +SERMON AT WESTMINSTER. + +_BY JOSEPH CARYL.[12]_ + +"And because of all this, we make a sure covenant, and write it; and our +princes, Levites, and priests, seal unto it." + +--_Nehemiah_ ix. 38. + + +The general subject of this verse, is the special business of this day. +A solemn engagement to the Lord, and among ourselves, in a sure +covenant. Wherein we may consider these five things. + +_First_, The nature of a covenant, from the whole. + +_Secondly_, The grounds of a covenant, from those words, "because of all +this." + +_Thirdly_, The property of a covenant, in that epithet, Sure--"we make a +sure covenant." + +_Fourthly_, The parties entering into, and engaging themselves in a +covenant, expressed by their several degrees and functions, Princes, +Levites, priests. And were these all? All whom this verse specifies, and +enow to bring in all the rest? Where the governors and the teachers go +before in an holy example, what honest heart will not follow? And the +next chapter shews us, all who were honest hearted, following this holy +example, verse 28: "And the rest of the people, the priests, the +Levites, the porters, the singers, the Nethinims, and all they that had +separated themselves from the people of the lands, unto the law of God, +their wives, their sons, and their daughters, every one having +knowledge, and having understanding: They clave unto their brethren, +their nobles, and entered into," &c. + +_Fifthly_, The outward acts by which they testified their inward sincere +consent, and engaged themselves to continue faithful in that covenant: +First, writing it. Second, sealing to it. Third, (in the tenth chapter, +ver. 29.) "They entered into a curse." Fourth, "Into an oath, to walk in +God's law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe +to do all the commandments of the Lord their God, with the statutes and +judgments. And that they would not give their daughters to the people of +the land," &c: with divers many articles of that covenant, tending both +to their ecclesiastical and civil reformation. + +I begin with the first point, the nature of a covenant. Concerning +which, we may receive some light from the notation of the original +words; 1. For a covenant. 2. For the making of a covenant. The Hebrew +_Berith (a covenant)_ comes from _Barah_, which signifieth two things: +_First_, To choose exactly, and judiciously. _Second_, To eat +moderately, or sparingly. And both these significations of the root +_Barah_, have an influence upon this derivative _Berith_, a covenant: +the former of these intimating, if not enforcing, that a covenant is a +work of sad and serious deliberation, for such are elective acts. +Election is, or ought to be made, upon the rational turn of judgment, +not upon a catch of fancy, or the hurry of our passions. + +Now, in a covenant, there is a double work of election: _First_, An +election of the persons, between whom. _Second_, An election of the +conditions, or terms upon which the covenant is entered. As God's +covenant people are His chosen people, so must ours. Some persons will +not enter into covenant, though invited; and others, though they offer +themselves, are not to be admitted. They who are not fit to build with +us, are not fit to swear with us. Some offered their help to the Jews in +the repair of the temple, "Let us build with you, for we seek your God." +But this tender of their service was refused. "Ye have nothing to do +with us, to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will +build." What should we do with their hands in the work, whose hearts, we +know, are not in the work? The intendment of such enjoining, must be +either to build their hay and stubble with our gold and silver, or else +to pull down by night what they build by day, and secretly to undermine +that noble fabric, which seemingly they endeavoured to set up. We find +in this book of Nehemiah, that the persons combining in that covenant, +were choice persons. The text of the tenth chapter, sets two marks of +distinction upon them. _First_, "All they that separated themselves from +the people of the lands, unto the law of God." _Second_, All "having +knowledge, and having understanding." Here are two qualifications, +whereof one is spiritual, and the other is natural. The plain English of +both may be this, "that fools and malignants, such as (in some measure) +know not the cause, and such as have no love at all to the cause, should +be outcasts from this covenant." Such sapless and rotten stuff will but +weaken, if not corrupt this sacred band. + +The tenor of the covenant now tendered, speaks thus respecting the +persons. "We noblemen, barons, knights, gentlemen, citizens, burgesses, +ministers of the gospel, and commons, of all sorts, in the kingdom of +England, Scotland, and Ireland." And doth not this indistinctly admit +all, and all, of all sorts? I answer, no. For the words following in +the preface, shew expressly, that only they are called to it, who are of +one reformed religion; which shuts out all papists, till they return. +And the articles pass them through a finer sieve, admitting only such as +promise, yea, and swear, that through the grace of God, they will +sincerely, really, and constantly endeavour the preservation of the +reformed religion, against the common enemy in the one kingdom, the +reformation and extirpation of what is amiss in the other two; as also, +in their own persons, families, and relations. They who do thus, are +choice persons indeed, and they who swear to do thus, are (in charity +and justice) to be reputed so, till their own acts and omissions falsify +their oaths. Thus our covenant makes an equivalent, though not a formal +or nominal election of the persons. + +_Second_, There must be a choice of conditions in a covenant; as the +persons obliged, so the matter of the obligation must be distinct. This +is so eminent in the covenant offered, that I may spare my pains in the +clearing of it; every man's pains in reading of it, cannot but satisfy +him, that there are six national conditions about which we make solemn +oath, and one personal, about which we make a most solemn profession and +declaration, before God and the world. And all these are choice +conditions: such as may well be held forth to be (as indeed they are) +the results and issues of many prayers, and serious consultations, in +both the kingdoms of England and Scotland. Conditions they are, in which +holiness and wisdom, piety and policy, zeal for God in purging His +church, and care for man in settling the commonwealth, appear to have +had (in a due subordination) their equal hand and share. + +Thus much of a covenant, from the force of the word in the first sense, +leading us to the choice both of persons and conditions. + +_Second_, The root signifies, to eat moderately, or so much as breaks +our fast. And this refers also to the nature of a covenant, which is to +draw men into a friendly and holy communion, and converse one with +another. "David describes a familiar friend, in whom he trusted, to be +one, that did eat of his bread." And the apostle Paul, when he would +have a scandalous brother denied all fellowship in church-covenant, he +charges it thus, "With such a one, no not to eat." Hence it was a custom +upon the making up of covenants, for the parties covenanting, soberly to +feast together. "When Isaac and Abimelech sware one to another, and made +a covenant; the sacred story tells us, that Isaac made them a feast, and +they did eat and drink." A covenant is a binder of affection, to assure +it, but it is a loosner of affection, to express it. And their hearts +are most free to one another, which are most bound to one another. How +unbecoming is it, that they who swear together, should be so strange as +scarce to speak together? That which unites, ought also to multiply our +affections. + +Further, the word hints so to converse together as not to sin together; +for it signifies moderation in eating. As if it would teach us, that at +a covenant-feast, or when covenanters feast, they should have more +grace, than meat at their tables: or if (through the blessing of God) +their meat be much, their temperance should be more. The covenant yields +us much business, and calls to action: excess soils our gifts, and damps +our spirits, fitting us for sleep, not for work. In and by this +covenant, we (who were almost carried into spiritual and corporal +slavery) are called to strive for the mastery. Let us therefore (as this +word and the apostle's rule instruct us) "Be temperate in all things." +Intemperate excessive eaters will be but moderate workers, especially in +covenant-work. A little will satisfy their consciences, who are given up +to satisfy their carnal appetites. And he who makes his belly his god, +will not make much of the glory of God. + +So much concerning the nature of a covenant, from the original word; +for a covenant, signifying both to chuse, and to eat. We may take in +some further light to discover the things from the original word, which +we translate "make"--"Let us make a covenant." + +That word signifies properly to cut, to strike, or to slay. The reason +hereof is given, because at the making of solemn covenants, beasts were +killed and divided asunder, and the covenant-makers went between the +parts. When God made that first grand covenant with Abraham, He said +unto him, "Take an heifer of three years old, and a she-goat of three +years old. And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the +midst, and laid all those pieces one against another." "Behold, a +smoking furnace, and a burning lamp" (which latter was the token of +God's presence for the deliverance of His people) passed between those +pieces. In Jeremiah we have the like ceremony in making a covenant, +"They cut the calf in twain, and passed between the parts thereof." Upon +this usage the phrase is grounded of cutting or striking a covenant. +Which ceremony had this signification in it, that when they passed +between those divided parts of the slain beast, the action spake this +curse or imprecation, "Let him be cut asunder, let his members be +divided, let him be made as this beast, who violates the oath of this +covenant." + +From these observations about the words, we may be directed about the +nature of the thing: and thence collect this description of a covenant. +A covenant is a solemn compact or agreement between two chosen parties +or more, whereby with mutual, free, and full consent they bind +themselves upon select conditions, tending to the glory of God, and +their common good. + +A covenant strictly considered, is more than a promise, and less than an +oath; unless an oath be joined with it, as was with that in the text, +and is with this we have now before us. A covenant differs from a +promise gradually, and in the formalities of it, not naturally, or in +the substance of it. God made promises to Abraham, Gen. xii. and Gen. +xiii. but He made no covenant with him, till chap. xv. ver. 18. "In that +day the Lord made a covenant with Abraham." And the work of the Lord in +that day with Abraham, had not only truth and mercy in it, but state and +majesty in it. A covenant day, is a solemn day. As the collection of +many stars makes a constellation, so the collection of many promises +makes a covenant. Or, as in the first of Genesis, "The gathering +together of the waters, was by the Lord called seas:" so we may call the +gathering together of promises, or conditions, a covenant. The Lord doth +(as it were) rally all the promises of mercy made to us, which lie +scattered up and down through the whole volume of the scriptures, and +puts them together into a covenant: and we do (as it were) rally all the +promises of duty which we owe unto God, and to one another, and put them +together in a covenant. Such a bundle of duty is tied up in this present +covenant; what duty is there which we owe to God, to His churches, or +these commonwealths whereof we make not promise, either expressly, or by +consequence in the compass of this covenant? And how great an obligation +to duly doth this contain, wherein there is an obligation to every duty? + +Seeing then this covenant, being taken, carries in it so great an +obligation, it calls for great preparation before we take it. A +slightness of spirit in taking this covenant, must needs cause a +slightness of spirit in keeping it. All solemn duties, ought to have +solemn preparations; and this I think, as solemn as any. A Christian +ought to set his heart (as far as he can through the strength of Christ) +into a praying frame, before he kneels down to prayer. And we ought to +set our hearts in a promising frame, before we stand up to make such +mighty promises. "Take heed how ye hear," is our Saviour's admonition in +the gospel; surely then we had need take heed how we swear. "Let a man +examine himself (saith the apostle Paul) and so let him eat of that +bread, and drink of that cup;" let him come examined to the sacrament: +so I may say, "Let a man examine himself, before he lift up his hand, or +write down his name;" let him come examined to the covenant. + +I shall briefly propose three heads of preparatory examination, +respecting our entrance into this covenant. + +_First_, Examine your hearts, and your lives, whether or no you are not +pre-engaged in any covenant contrary to the tenor and conditions of this +covenant? If any such upon inquiry be found, be sure you avoid it, +before you engage yourselves in this. A super-institution in this kind, +is very dangerous. Every man must look to it, that he takes this +covenant _(corde vacante)_ with a heart emptied of all covenants which +are inconsistent with this. For a man to covenant with Christ and His +people for reformation, while he hath either taken a covenant with +others, or made a covenant in his own breast against it, is desperate +wickedness. Or if upon a self-search, you find yourselves clear of any +such engagements, yet search further. Every man by nature is a +covenanter with hell, and with every sin he is at agreement: be sure you +revoke and cancel that covenant, before you subscribe this. "If I regard +iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear my prayer;" that is, He +will not regard my prayers, (saith David). And if we regard iniquity in +our hearts, the Lord will not hear us covenanting; that is, He will not +regard our covenant. Woe be unto those who make this league with God and +His people, while they resolve to continue their league with sin: which +is (upon the matter) a league with Satan. God and Satan will never meet +in one covenant. "For what communion hath light with darkness? and what +concord hath Christ and Belial?" + +_Second_, Before you enter into this covenant with God, consider of, and +repent for this special sin, your former breaches and failings in God's +covenant. "We who were sometimes afar off, aliens from the commonwealth +of Israel, and strangers from the covenant of promise, are made nigh by +the blood of Jesus," even so nigh, as to be in covenant with God. Some +who pretend to this privilege, will be found "Such as have counted the +blood of the covenant to be an unholy thing." And where is the man that +walketh so holily in this covenant as becomes him, and as it requires? +Labour therefore to have those breaches healed by a fresh sprinkling of +the blood of Christ upon your consciences, before you enter this +covenant: If you put this new piece to an old garment, the rent will be +made worse: If you put this new wine into old bottles, the bottles will +break, and all your expected comforts will run out and be lost. If you +should not feel and search your own hearts, without doubt the Lord will. +"And if you be found as deceivers, you will bring a curse upon +yourselves, and not a blessing." This is a covenant of amity with God: +reconciliation must go before friendship, you can never make friendship +till you have made peace, nor settle love, where hostility is unremoved. + +_Third_, Inquire diligently at your own hearts, whether they come up to +the terms of this covenant? You must bid high for the honour of a +covenanter, for a part in this privilege. "Which of you," saith our Lord +Christ to His hearers, "intending to build a tower, sitteth not down +first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? +Lest haply after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish +it, all that behold it, begin to mock him, saying, this man began to +build, and was not able to finish." We are met this day to lay the +foundation of one tower, and to pull up the foundation of another; we +are pulling up the foundation of Babel's tower, and we are laying a +foundation for Zion's tower. We have seen some who have heretofore done +as much, but they have done no more; when they had laid a foundation +for those noble works in taking a solemn oath and covenant, they have +never moved a hand after either to build or to pull down, unless it were +quite cross to their own engagements, for the pulling down of Zion's +tower, and the building of Babylon. + +And what was the reason of this stand, or contrary motion? this surely +was one, they did not gage their own hearts before hand, neither did +they sit down to count the cost of such an undertaking. And therefore +when they perceived the charge to arise so high, they neither could +finish, nor would they endeavour it, but left the work before it looked +above the ground; and are justly become a mock and a scorn and a +reproach in Israel, these are the men that began in a solemn covenant to +build, but could not finish; they had not stock enough either of true +honour or honesty (tho' their stock of parts and opportunities was +sufficient) to finish this work. + +Let us therefore sit down seriously and count the cost; yea and consider +whether we be willing to be at the cost. To lead you on in this, my +humble advice is, that you would catechise your hearts upon the articles +of this covenant. Put the question to your hearts, and let every one say +this unto himself: + +Am I indeed resolved sincerely, really and constantly, through the grace +of God, in my place and calling, to endeavour the preservation of the +reformed religion in the church of Scotland? The reformation of religion +in the kingdoms of England and Ireland? + +Am I indeed resolved in like manner, without respect of persons, to +endeavour the extirpation of popery, prelacy? + +Am I indeed resolved never to be withdrawn or divided by whatsoever +terror or persuasion from this blessed union and conjunction, whether to +make defection to the contrary part, or to give myself to a detestable +indifferency or neutrality in this cause of God? + +Am I indeed resolved to humble myself for my own sins, and the sins of +the kingdom? to amend myself, and all in my power, and to go before +others in the example of a real reformation? + +According to these hints, propose the question upon every clause of this +covenant. And then consider what the cost of performing all these may +amount to, and whether you are willing to go to that cost. + +But it may be, some will say, what is this cost? I answer, the express +letter of the covenant tells you of one cost which you must be +constantly at, and that is sincere, real, and constant endeavour. Pains +is a price, I am sure real pains is. The heathens said, "That their gods +sold them all good things for labour." The good things of this covenant +are sold at that rate; yea, this is the price which the true God puts +upon those things which He freely gives. To consent to this covenant, to +wish well to this covenant, to speak well of this covenant, come not up +to the price; you must do these, and you must do more, you must be +doing, so the promise of every man for himself runs, I will through the +grace of God endeavour. Yet every endeavour is not current money, +payable as the price of this covenant: there must be a threefold stamp +upon it. Unless it bear the image and superscription of sincerity, +reality, and constancy, it will not be accepted. For so the promise +runs, "I will sincerely, really, and constantly endeavour." + +Neither yet is this all. Such endeavours are virtually money; but as +this covenant calls also for money formally, as the price of it, he that +really endeavours after such ends, as here are proposed, must not only +be at the cost of his pains, but also at the cost of his purse for the +attainment of them. He must open his hand to give and to lend as well as +to work and labour. Unless a man be free of his purse as well as of his +pains, he bides not up to the demands of this covenant, nor pays up to +his own promise when he entered into it. Can that man be said really to +endeavour the maintenance of a cause while he lets it starve? or, to +strengthen it while he keeps the sinews of it close shut up? Would he +have the chariot move swiftly, who only draws but will not oil the +wheels? Know then and consider it that the cost you must be at is both +in your labours and in your estates. The engagement runs to both these: +and to more than both these. + +The covenant engages us not only to do but to suffer, not only to +endeavour but to endure. Such is the tenor of the sixth article where +every man promises for himself that he will not suffer himself to be +withdrawn from this blessed Union by any terrors. If not by any terror, +then not by any losses, imprisonments, torments, no, nor by death, that +king of terrors. You see, then, that the price of this covenant may be +the price of blood, of liberty, and of life. Sit down and consider. Are +you willing to be at this cost to build the tower? Through the goodness +of God in ordering these great affairs, you may never come actually to +pay down so much, haply, not half so much, but except you resolve (if +called and put to it by the real exigencies of this cause) to pay down +the utmost farthing, your spirits are too narrow and your hearts too low +for the honour and tenor of this covenant. If any shall say these +demands are very high and the charge very great, but is a part in this +covenant worth it? Will it quit cost to be at so great a charge? Wise +men love to see and have somewhat for their money; and when they see +they will not stick at any cost so the considerations be valuable. + +For the answering and clearing of this, I shall pass to the Second point +which holds forth the grounds of a covenant from those words of the +text, "And because of all this." If any one shall be troubled at the +"All this" in the price, I doubt not but the "All this" in the grounds +will satisfy him. Because of all this, we make a sure covenant. Here +observe: + +1. A covenant must be grounded on reason: we must shew the cause why. +God often descends, but man is bound, to give a reason of what he doeth. +Some of God's actions are above reason, but none without reason. All our +actions ought to be level with reason and with common reason, for it is +a common act. That which men of all capacities are called to do, should +lie in the reach of every man's capacity. Observe: + +2. A covenant must be grounded on weighty reason; there must be much +light in the reason (as was shewed before) but no lightness. "Because of +all this" saith the text. There were many things in it, and much weight +in every one of them. + +And the reasons, in their proportion, must at least be as weighty as the +conditions. Weighty conditions will never be balanced with light +reasons. If a man ask a thousand pounds for a jewel, he is bound to +demonstrate that his jewel is intrinsically worth so much, else no wise +man will come up to his demands. So when great things are demanded to be +paid down by all who take part in this covenant, we are obliged to +demonstrate and hold forth an equivalent of worth in the grounds and +nature of it. Hence observe + +3. That the reasons of a covenant must be express, "Because of all +this." _This_ is demonstrative. Here's the matter laid before you, +consider of it, examine it thoroughly. This is fair dealing, when a man +sees why he undertakes, and what he may expect, before he is engaged. +And so may say, "Because of this, and this, because of all this," I have +entered into the covenant. + +But what were the particulars that made up the gross sum of all this? I +answer, those particulars lie scattered throughout the chapter, the +attentive reader will easily find them out; I shall in brief reduce +them unto two heads. 1. The defection and corruptions that were crept +in, or openly brought in among them. 2. The afflictions, troubles, and +judgments that either were already fallen, or were feared would further +fall upon them. + +The former of these causes is laid down in the 34 and 35 verses of this +chapter. "Neither have our kings, our princes, our priests, nor our +fathers kept Thy law, nor hearkened to Thy commandments, and Thy +testimonies, wherewith Thou didst testify against them. For they have +not served Thee in Thy kingdom, and in Thy great goodness." + +The latter of these reasons is contained in the 36 and 37 verses. +"Behold, we are servants this day; and for the land which Thou gavest +unto our fathers, to eat the fruit thereof, and the good thereof, +behold, we are servants in it." The close of all is, we are in great +distress. From this narrative of the grounds, the making of a covenant +is inferred as a conclusion, in the immediate subsequent words of the +text, "because of all this." As if he had said, "because we are a people +who have so departed from the laws and statutes of our God, and are so +corrupted both in worship, and in practice; because we are a people so +oppressed in our estates, and liberties, and so distressed by judgments +and afflictions: therefore, because of all this, we make a sure +covenant." + +And if we peruse the records of the holy Scripture, we shall find, that +either both these grounds conjoined, or one of them, are expressed as +the reasons at any time inducing the people of God, to enter into the +bond of a covenant. This is evident in Asa's covenant, 2 Chron. xv. 12, +13. In Hezekiah's, 2 Chron. xxix. 10. In Josiah's, 2 Chron. xxxiv. 30, +31. In Ezra's, chap. x. 3. To all which, I refer the reader for +satisfaction. And, from all consenting with this in the text, I observe: + +That when a people are corrupted or declined in doctrine, worship, and +manners; when they are distressed in their liberties, livelihoods, or +lives; then, and at such a time they have warrantable and sufficient +grounds to make and engage themselves (as their last and highest resort +for redress) in the bonds of a sacred solemn covenant. + +What engagement can be upon us, which these reasons do not reach and +answer? The liberty of our persons, and of our estates, is worth much; +but the liberty of the gospel and purity of doctrine and ordinances, are +worth much more. Peace is a precious jewel, but who can value truth? The +wise merchant will sell all that he hath with joy to buy this, and +blesses God for the bargain. + +And because of all this, we are called to make a covenant this day. +Truth of doctrine and purity of worship were going, and much of them +both were gone. The liberty of our persons, and property of our estates, +were going, and much of them both were gone; we were at once growing +popish and slavish, superstitious and servile; we were in these great +distresses, "And because of all this we make a covenant this day." That +these are the grounds of our covenant, is clear in the tenor of the +covenant. The preamble whereof speaks thus: + +"We calling to mind the treacherous and bloody plots, conspiracies, +attempts, and practices of the enemies of God, against the true religion +and professors thereof, in all places, especially in these three +kingdoms, ever since the reformation of religion; and how much their +rage, power and presumption are of late, and at this time increased and +exercised, whereof the deplorable estate of the church and kingdom of +Ireland, the distressed estate of the church and kingdom of England, and +the dangerous estate of the church and kingdom of Scotland, are present +and public testimonies: we have now at the last, for the preservation of +ourselves, and our religion, from utter ruin and destruction, after +mature deliberation resolved and determined to enter into a mutual and +solemn league and covenant." + +So then, if we be asked a reason of our covenant, here are reasons, +clear reasons, easy to the weakest understanding, yea, open to every +man's sense. Who amongst us hath not felt these reasons? and how many +have smarted their proof unto us? And as these reasons are so plain, +that the most illiterate and vulgar understandings may conceive them; so +they are so weighty and cogent, that the most subtile and sublime +understandings cannot but be subdued to them; unless, because they are +such masters of reason, they have resolved to obey none. And yet where +conscience is indeed unsatisfied, we should rather pity than impose, and +labour to persuade, rather than violently to obtrude. Now seeing we have +all this for the ground of a covenant, let us cheerfully and reverently +make a sure covenant, which is the third point in the text, the property +of this covenant: we make a sure covenant. + +In the Hebrew, the word covenant is not expressed. The text runs only +thus, we make a sure one, or a sure thing. Covenants are in their own +nature and constitution, things of so much certainty and assurance, that +by way of excellency, a covenant is called, a sure one, or an assurance. +When a sure one is but named, a covenant must be understood. As, the +"Holy One" is God, and the "Holy One and the Just," is Christ. You may +know whom the Holy Ghost means, when He saith "The Holy One and the +Just." So the sure one, is a covenant. You may know what they made, when +the Holy Ghost saith, they made a sure one. Hence observe, that + +A well grounded covenant is a sure, a firm, and an irrevocable act. When +you have such an _all this_, (and such you have) as is here concentrated +in the text, to lay into, or for the foundation of a covenant, the +superstruction is _aeternitati sacrum_, and must stand for ever. + +A weak ground is but a weak obligation; and a sinful ground is no +obligation. There is much sin in making a covenant upon sinful grounds, +and there is more sin in keeping of it. But when the preservation of +true religion, and the vindication of just liberties meet in the +groundwork, ye may swear and not repent; yea, if ye swear, ye must not +repent. For because of all such things as these, we ought (if we make +any, and that we ought) to make a sure covenant. + +The covenant God makes with man is a sure covenant. Hence called a +"Covenant of salt," because salt preserves from perishing and +putrefaction. The covenant of God with man about temporal things, is +called a "Covenant of Salt, and a covenant forever." For tho' His +covenant about temporal things (as all temporals must) hath an end of +termination, yet it hath no end of corruption: time will conclude it, +but time cannot violate it. But as for His covenant about eternal +things, that, like eternity, knows not only no end of corruption, but +none of termination. "Altho' my house (saith gasping David) be not so +with God; yet He hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in +all things and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, +altho' He make it not to grow." And what is it that makes the covenant +of God with man thus sure? sure not only in itself, but (as the apostle +speaks) to all the seed. Is it not this, because it hath a strong +foundation, a double, impregnable foundation? _First_, His own free +grace. _Second_, The blood of Christ; which is therefore also called, +the blood of the covenant. Because of all this, this all, which hath an +infinity in it, the Lord God hath made with us a sure covenant. + +Now, as the stability and everlastingness of God's covenant with His +elect, lies in the strength of the foundation, "His own love, and the +blood of His Son:" so the stability and firmness of our covenant with +God, lies in the strength of this foundation, the securing of the +gospel, and the asserting of gospel-purity in worship, and privileges +in government; the securing of our lives, and the asserting of our +common liberties. When at any time ye can question, and, from the +oracles of truth, be resolved, that these are sufficient grounds of +making a covenant, or that these are not ours, ye may go, and unassure +the covenant which ye make this day. + +_Application._ Let me therefore invite you in the words of the prophet +Jeremiah, "Come let us join ourselves to the Lord, in a perpetual +covenant that shall never be forgotten." And do not these look like the +days wherein the prophet calls to the doing of this? "In those days, and +at that time, saith the Lord." What time, and what days were those? the +beginning of the chapter answers. "The word that the Lord spake against +Babylon, declare ye among the nations, and publish, and set up a +standard, publish and conceal not: say, Babylon is taken, Bell is +confounded, Merodach is broken in pieces; her idols are confounded, her +images are broken in pieces: for out of the north there cometh up a +nation against her, which shall make her land desolate." Then follows, +"In those days and at that time saith the Lord, the children of Israel +shall come. And they shall ask the way to Zion, with their faces +thitherward saying, Come, and let us join ourselves to the Lord, in a +perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten." + +Are not these the days, and this the time (I speak not of time to a day, +but of time and days) wherein the Lord speaks against Babylon, and +against the land of the Chaldeans: wherein He saith, "Declare among the +nations, and publish, and set up the standard." Are not these the days, +and this the time, when out of the north there cometh up a nation +against her? As face answers face in the water, so do the events of +these days answer, if not the letter, yet much of the mystery of this +prophecy. There seems wanting only the work which this day is bringing +forth, and a few days more (I hope) will bring unto perfection, the +joining of ourselves in a perpetual covenant, never to be forgotten. It +is very observable, how the prophet, as it were, with one breath saith, +"Babylon is taken." And, "Come let us join ourselves in covenant." As if +there were no more in it but this, take the covenant, and ye take +Babylon. Or, as if the taking of a covenant were the ready way, the +readiest way to take Babylon. Surely at the report of the taking of this +sure covenant, we in our prayer-visions (as the prophet Habakkuk), "May +see the tents of Cushan in affliction, and the curtains of the land of +Midian tremble." Or, as Moses in his triumphant song, "The people shall +hear, and be afraid: sorrow shall take hold of the inhabitants of +Palestina. The dukes of Edom shall be amazed; the mighty men of Moab, +trembling shall take hold upon them; the inhabitants of Canaan (who are +now the inhabitants of Babylon) shall melt away. The towers of Babylon +shall quake, and her seven hills will move. The great mountain before +our Zerubbabel, will become a plain, and we shall bring forth the +head-stone (of our reformation) with shouting, crying, grace, grace unto +it." Why may we not promise to ourselves such glorious effects (and not +build these castles in the air) when we have laid so promising a +foundation, this sure covenant, and have made a perpetual covenant, +never to be forgotten? + +The three things I shall propose, which this covenant will bring in, as +facilitating contributions to so great a work: + +1. This covenant will distinguish men, and separate the precious from +the vile. In the twentieth chapter of Ezekiel, the Lord promiseth His +people, after this manner, "I will cause you to pass under the rod, and +I will bring you into the bond of the covenant." The phrase of causing +to pass under the rod, is an allusion to shepherds, or the keepers of +cattle, who when they would take special notice of their sheep or +cattle, either in their number to tithe them, or in their goodness to +try them, they brought them into a fold, or some other inclosed place, +when letting them pass out at a narrow door, one by one, they held a rod +over them, to count or consider more distinctly of them. This action was +called a "passing of them under the rod," as Moses teaches us, "And +concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever +passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the Lord." The +learned Junius expounds that text in Ezekiel by this in Leviticus, +giving the sense thus, "As if the Lord had said, I will prove and try +the whole people of Israel, as a shepherd doeth his flock, that I may +take the good and sound into the fold of My covenant, and cast out the +wicked and unsound." Which interpretation is not only favoured, but +fully approved, in the words immediately following, "I will bring you +into the bond of the covenant, and I will purge out from among you the +rebels, and them that transgress against Me." + +A covenant is to a nation, as a fan to the floor, which purges away the +chaff and purifies the wheat. It is like the furnace to the metal, which +takes away the dross and shews you a refined lump. It is a Shibboleth, +to distinguish Ephraimites from Gileadites. And who knows not how great +an advantage it is for the successful carrying on of any honourable +design, to know friends from enemies, and the faithful from false +brethren? Some have thought it unpolitical to set-a-foot this covenant, +lest it should discover more enemies than friends, and so holding out to +the view more than otherwise can be seen, the weakness of a party may +render them, not only more obnoxious, but more inconsiderable. + +To this I answer, in a word, invisible enemies will ever do us more hurt +than visible; and if we cannot deliver ourselves from them, when they +are seen and known, doubtless unseen and unknown, they will more easily, +tho' more insensibly devour us. And I verily believe, we have already +received more damage and deeper wounds from pretended friends, than +from professed and open enemies. The sad stories of Abner and Amasa +inform us, that there is no fence against his stroke, who comes too near +us, who stabs while he takes us aside to speak kindly to us, who draws +his sword, while he hath a kiss at his lips, and art thou in health, my +brother, at his tongue. Let us never think ourselves stronger, because +we do not know our weakness; or safer, because we are ignorant of our +danger. Or that our real enemies and false friends will do us less hurt, +because they are less discovered. I do not think, that a flock ever +fared the better, because the wolves that were amongst them, went in +sheep's clothing. Rather will our knowledge be our security, and the +discovery which this covenant makes, help on both our deliverance and +our business. For as, possibly, this covenant may discover those who are +faithful to be fewer, than was supposed before this strict distinction +from others; so it will certainly make them stronger than they were +before, by a stricter union among themselves. And this is + +2. The second benefit of this covenant, which I shall next insist upon. +As it doth separate those who are heterogeneal, so likewise it will +congregate and embody those who are homogeneal. And therefore it cannot +but add strength unto a people; for whatsoever unites, strengthens. A +few united, are stronger than a scattered multitude. Tho' they who +subscribe this covenant should be, comparatively, so few, as the prophet +speaks, "That a child may write them;" yet this few thus united are +stronger than so many scattered ones, as exceed all arithmetic, whom (as +John speaks,) "No man can number." Cloven tongues were sent, to publish +the gospel, but not divided tongues, much less divided hearts: the +former hindered the building of Babel, and the latter, tho' tongues +should agree, will hinder the building of Jerusalem. Then a work goes on +amain, when the undertakers, whether they be few or many, all speak and +think the same thing. A people are more considerable in any work, +because they are one, than because they are many. But when many and one +meet, nothing can stand before them. So the Lord God observed, when "He +came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men +builded." And the Lord said, "Behold, the people is one, and they have +all one language: and this they begin to do; and now nothing will be +restrained from them, which they have imagined to do." Men may do as +much as they can think, while they all think and do as one; and not only +can such do great things, if let alone; but none can let them in doing +what they intend; so saith the Lord, "They have begun to do, and nothing +will be restrained from them, which they have imagined." Nothing could +restrain, or let them from their work, but His power, who "will work, +and none can let it." Thus it is apparent that union is our strength. +And it is as apparent that this covenant, through the blessing of God +upon it, will be our union. To unite, is the very nature of a covenant. +Hence it is called "the bond of the covenant, I will bring you into the +bond of the covenant," saith the Lord. Junius and some others render it, +I will bring you _(ad exhibitionem foederis)_ to the giving or tendering +of the covenant: deriving the word from _Masar_, signifying, to exhibit +or deliver. Whence (to note that in passage) the traditionary doctrine +among the Jews is called _Masora_, or _Masoreth_. Others (whom our +translators fellow, and put the former sense, delivering, in the margin) +others, I say, deriving the word from _Asar_ to bind, render it the bond +of the covenant. + +And this covenant is the bond of a twofold union. _First_, It unites us +of this kingdom among ourselves, and this kingdom with the other two. +_Second_, It makes a special union of all those who shall take it holily +and sincerely throughout the three kingdoms with the one-most God. Weak +things bound together, are strong, much more then, when strong are bound +up with strong: most of all, when strong are bound up with Almighty. If +in this covenant, we should only join weak to weak, we might be strong. +But, blessed be God, we join strong, as creatures may be accounted +strong, with strong. The strong kingdoms of England and Ireland, with +the strong kingdom of Scotland. A threefold cord twisted of three such +strong cords, will not easily, if at all, be broken. They which single, +blessed be God, have yet such strength, how strong may they be when +conjoined? as the apostle writes, "I speak after the manner of men, +because of the infirmity of your flesh:" so I speak now after the manner +of men, concerning the strength of our flesh, outward means, in these +kingdoms. For as the apostle Peter speaks in like phrase, tho' to +another occasion, "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some +men count slackness:" so I may say, no man, no kingdoms, are strong to +any purpose, as the Lord counts strength. + +And therefore, I reckon this the least part of our strength, that these +three strong kingdoms will be united by this covenant. Nay, if this were +all the strength, which this union were like to make, I should reckon +this no strength at all. Wherefore, know that this covenant undoubtedly +is, and will be a bond of union between strong and Almighty: between +three strong nations, and an Almighty God. This covenant engages more +than man, God also is engaged; engaged, through His free grace, in His +power, wisdom, faithfulness, to do us good, and much good, tho' in and +of ourselves unworthy of the least, unworthy of any good. + +All this considered, this covenant will be our strength: our brethren of +Scotland have, in a plentiful experience, found it so already. This +covenant, thro' the blessing of God upon their councils and endeavours, +hath been their Samson's lock, the thing in fight, wherein their +strength lieth. And why should not we hope, that it will be ours; if we +can be wise, as they, to prevent or overcome the flattering enticements +of those Delilahs who would lull us asleep in their laps, only for an +opportunity to cut or shave it off? Then indeed, which God forbid, we +should be but weak like other men, yea, weaker than ourselves were +before this lock was grown, having but the strength of man; God utterly +departing from us, for our falseness and unfaithfulness in this +covenant. + +3. This covenant observed will make us an holy people, and then, we +cannot be an unhappy people. That which promotes personal holiness, must +needs promote national holiness. The consideration that we are in the +bonds of a covenant, is both a bridle to stop us from sin, and a spur to +duty. When we provoke God to bring evil upon us, He stays His hand by +considering His covenant. "I will remember My covenant, saith the Lord, +which is between Me, and you; and every living creature of all flesh; +and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh." As if +the Lord had said, It is more than probable, that I shall quickly see as +much cause, "all flesh corrupting all their ways before Me," to drown +the world with a second deluge, as I did for the first: the foulness of +the world, will quickly call for another washing. But I am resolved, +never to destroy it by water again; for, "I will remember My covenant." +Hence also in the second book of the Chronicles, chap. xxi. where the +reign and sins of Jehoram are recorded; such sins as might justly put a +sword into the hand of God to cut him off root and branch; howbeit, +saith the text, "The Lord would not destroy the house of David, because +of the covenant that He had made with David, and as He promised to give +a light to him, and to his sons forever." Now, as the remembrance of the +covenant on His part, stays the hand of God from smiting; so the +remembrance of the covenant on our part, will be very effectual to stay +our hands, and tongues, and hearts from sinning. A thought of that will +damp and silence our lusts and passions, when they begin to move or +quest within us: it will also break the blow of Satan's temptations, +when he assaults us. The soul in such cases will answer, True, I am now +as strongly tempted to sin as ever, I have now as fair an opportunity to +commit sin as ever, I could now be false to, and desert this cause with +as much advantage, upon as fair hopes and promises as ever: O! but I am +in covenant, I remember my covenant, I will not, I cannot do it; and so +he falls a praying against the temptation: yea, he begs prayers of +others, that he may be strengthened against, and overcome it. I read you +an instance of this effect. Before the sermon, a paper is sent to this +congregation, containing this request: "One who through much passion +oftentimes grievously offends the Majesty of God by cursing and +swearing, and that since his late taking the covenant, desires the +prayers of this congregation, that his offence may be pardoned, and that +he may be enabled to overcome that temptation from henceforwards." This +is the tenor of that request, to a letter and a tittle, and therein you +see how the remembrance of the covenant wrought. Probably this party +(whosoever he was) took little notice of, or was little troubled at the +notice of these distempers in himself before; least of all sought out +for help against them. And I have the rather inserted this to confute +that scorn which, I hear, some have since put upon that conscientious +desire. As if one had complained, that since his swearing to the +covenant he could not forbear swearing, and that this sacred oath had +taught him profane ones. But what holy thing is there which swine will +not make mire of, for themselves to wallow in? I return; and I nothing +doubt, but that this covenant, wherein all is undertaken through the +grace of Christ, will make many more gracious who had grace before, and +turn others, who were running on amain in the broad way, from the evil +and error of their ways, into the way which is called holy, or into the +ways of holiness. Every act wherein we converse with an holy God, hath +an influence upon our spirits to make us holy. The soul is made more +holy in prayer, tho' holiness be not the particular matter of the +prayer: a man gets much of heaven into his heart, in praying for earthly +things, if he pray in a spiritual manner; and the reason is because, in +prayer, he hath converse with, and draws nigh to God, whatsoever lawful +thing he prays about. And the same reason carries it in covenanting, +tho' it were only about the maintenance of our outward estates and +liberties, forasmuch as therein we have to do with God. How much more +then will holiness be increased through this covenant which, in many +branches of it, is a direct covenant for, and about holiness? And if we +improve it home to this purpose, for the subduing of those mystical +Canaanites, those worst and indeed most formidable enemies, our sinful +lusts: if we improve it for the obtaining of more grace, and the making +of us more holy: tho' our visible Canaanites should not only continue +unsubdued by us, but subdue us; though our estates and liberties should +continue, not only unrecovered, but quite lost; tho' we should neither +be a rich, nor a free, nor a victorious people; yet if we are an holy +people, we have more than all these, we have all, He is ours, "Who is +all in all." So much of the first general part of the application. + +The second is for admonition and caution, in three or four particulars. + +1. Take heed of "profaning this covenant," by an unholy life. Remember +you have made a covenant with heaven; then do not live as if you had +made a "covenant with hell or were come to an agreement with death," as +the prophet Isaiah characters those monsters of profaneness. Take heed +also of "corrupting this covenant," by an unholy gloss. Wo be unto those +glossers that corrupt the text, pervert the meaning of these words: who +attempt to expound the covenant by their own practice, and will not +regulate their practice by the covenant. The apostle Peter speaks of +Paul's writings, "That in them some things are hard to be understood, +which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the +other scriptures, to their own destruction." We may fear, that tho' the +text of this covenant be easy to be understood, yet some (who, at least +think themselves learned), and whom we have found not only stable but +stiffened in their own erroneous principles and opinions, will be trying +their skill, if not their malice, to wrest, or, as the Greek imports, to +torture and set this covenant upon the rack, to make it speak and +confess a sense never intended by the composers, or proposers of it: and +whereof (if but common ingenuity be the judge) it never will, nor can be +found guilty. All that I shall say to such is that in the close of the +verse quoted from the apostle Peter, let them take heed such wrestings +be not (worst to themselves, even) to their own destruction. + +2. Take heed of delaying to perform the duties of this covenant. Some, I +fear, who have made haste to take the covenant, will take leasure to act +it. It is possible, that a man may make too much haste (when he swears, +before he considers what it is) to take an oath; but, having taken it +upon due consideration, he cannot make too much haste to perform it. "Be +not rash with thy mouth," saith the preacher. That is, do not vow +rashly, but, "When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it: for +He hath no pleasure in fools (slow performance is folly); pay that which +thou hast vowed." Speedy paying (like speedy giving) is double payment; +whereas slow payment is no payment or as bad as none, for it is foolish +payment. A bond, if I mistake not, is presently due in law, if no day be +specified in the bond. It is so I am sure in this covenant; here is no +day set down, and therefore all is due the same day you take it. God and +man may sue this bond presently for non-payment: the covenant gives no +day, and therefore requires the next day, every day. It is not safe to +take day for payment, when the obligation is _in terminis de praesenti_, +and none is given. + +3. Take heed of dallying with this covenant. It is more than serious, a +sacred covenant. It is very dangerous jesting with edged tools. This +covenant is as keen as it is strong. Do not play fast and loose with it, +be not in and out with it; God is an avenger of all such: He is a +jealous God, and will not hold them guiltless, who thus take His name in +vain. They who swear by, or to the Lord, and swear by Malcham, are +threatened to be cut off. To be on both sides, and to be on no side; +neutrality and indifferency differ little, either in their sin or +danger. + +4. Above all, take heed of apostatizing from, or an utter desertion of, +this covenant. To be deserted of God, is the greatest punishment, and to +desert God, is the greatest sin. When you have set your hands to the +plough, do not look back: remember Lot's wife. Besides the sin, this is, +_First_, Extremely base and dishonourable. It is one of the brands set +upon those Gentiles whom "God had given up to a reprobate mind, and to +vile affections," that they were covenant breakers. And how base is that +issue which is begotten between, and born from vile affections, and a +reprobate mind? where the parents are such, it is easy to judge what the +child must be. _Second_, Besides the sin and the dishonour, this is +extremely dangerous and destructive. We are said in the native speaking, +to cut a covenant, or to strike a covenant, when we make it; and if we +break the covenant when we have made it, it will both strike and cut us, +it will kill and slay us. If the cords of this covenant do not bind us, +the cords of this covenant will whip us; and whip us, not as with cords, +but as with scorpions. The covenant will have a quarrel with, and sends +out a challenge unto such breakers of it, for reparation. And (if I may +so speak) the great God will be its second. As God revenges the quarrel +of His own covenant, so likewise the quarrel of ours. He hath already +"Sent a sword to revenge the quarrel of His covenant." He will send +another to revenge the quarrel of this upon the wilful violators of it. +Yea, every lawful covenant hath a curse always waiting upon it, like a +marshal or a sergeant, to attack such high contemners of it. It was +noted before from the ceremony of killing, dividing, and passing between +the divided parts of a beast, when covenants were made, that the +imprecation of a curse upon the covenanters was implied, in case they +wilfully transgressed or revolted from it. Let the transgressors of, and +revolters from this covenant, fear and tremble at the same curse, even +the curse of a dreadful division: "That God will divide them and their +posterity in Jacob, and scatter them in our Israel; yea, let them fear, +that God will rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be +chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like a rolling +wind before the whirlwind. This is (their portion, and) the portion of +them that spoil us, and the lot of them that rob us." And if so, is not +their lot fallen in an unpleasant place? have they not a dreadful +heritage? to be under any curse is misery enough; but to be under a +covenant curse, is the greatest, is all misery. For as the blessings we +receive are most sweet, when they pass to us through the hands of a +covenant; a mercy from a promise is far better than a mercy from bare +Providence, because then it is sprinkled with the blood of Christ: so on +the other side, the curse which falls upon any one is far more bitter +when it comes through a covenant, especially an abused, a broken +covenant. When the fiery beams of God's wrath are contracted into this +burning glass, it will burn as low as hell, and none can quench it. That +alone which quenches the fire of God's wrath is the blood of Christ. And +the blood of Christ is the foundation of this covenant. Not only is +that covenant which God hath made with us founded in the blood of +Christ, but that also which we make with God. Were it not by the blood +of Christ, we could not possibly be admitted to so high a privilege. +Seeing then the blood of Christ only quenches the wrath of God, and this +blood is the foundation of our covenant, how shall the wrath of God +(except they repent, return and renew their covenant) be quenched +towards such violators of it? And, as our Saviour speaks upon another +occasion, "If the light which is in them be darkness, how great is that +darkness?" So, I say, if that which is our friend turn upon us as an +enemy, how great is that enmity; and if that which is our mercy be +turned into wrath, how great is that wrath, and who can quench it? It is +said of good king Josiah, that when he had made a covenant before the +Lord, "he caused all that were present in Jerusalem, and in Benjamin, to +stand to it." How far he interposed his regal authority, I stay not to +dispute. But he caused them to stand to it; that is openly to attest, +and to maintain it. Methinks the consideration of these things, should +reign over the hearts of men, and command in their spirits, more than +any prince can over the tongues or bodies of men, to cause them to stand +to this covenant. Ye that have taken this covenant, unless ye stand to +it, ye will fall by it. I shall shut up this point with that of the +apostle, "Take unto you the whole armour of God, that you may be able to +withstand in the evil day, and, when ye have done all, to stand," (Eph. +vi. 13). Stand, and withstand, are the watchword of this covenant, or +the impress of every heart which hath or shall sincerely swear unto it. + +For the helping of you to stand to this covenant, I shall cast in a few +advices about your walking in this covenant, or your carriage in it, +which, if followed, I dare say, through the mercy of the Most High, your +persons, these kingdoms, and this cause, shall not miscarry. + +1. Walk in holiness and uprightness. When God renewed His covenant with +Abraham, He makes this the preamble of it, "I am the Almighty God, walk +before Me, and be thou perfect, and I will make My covenant between Me +and thee." As this must be a covenant of salt, in regard of +faithfulness; so there must be salt in this covenant, even the salt of +holiness and uprightness. The Jews were commanded in all their offerings +to use salt; and that is called the salt of the covenant, "Every +oblation of thy meat-offering shalt thou season with salt, neither shalt +thou suffer the salt of the covenant of thy God to be lacking." What is +meant by salt on our parts, is taught us by Christ Himself, "Have salt +in yourselves, and have peace one with another." Which I take to be +parallel in sense with that of the apostle, "Follow peace with all men +and holiness." As salt, the shadow of holiness, was called for, in all +those Jewish services; so holiness, the true substantial salt, is called +for in all ours. As then it was charged, "Let not the salt of the +covenant of thy God be lacking:" so now it is charged, "Suffer not the +salt of thy covenant with God and His people to be lacking." Seeing we +have made a covenant of salt, that is, a sure covenant, let us remember +to keep salt in our covenant. Let us add salt to salt, our salt to the +Lord's salt, our salt of holiness to His salt of faithfulness, and we +shall not miscarry. + +2. Walk steadily or stedfastly in this covenant. Where the heart is +upright and holy, the feet will be steady. Unstedfastness is a sure +argument of unsoundness, as well as a fruit of it. "Their heart was not +right with Him; neither were they stedfast in His covenant." As if He +had said, would you know the reason why this people were so unstedfast? +It was, because they were so unsound. "Their heart was not right with +Him." We often see the diseases of men's hearts breaking forth at their +lips, and at their finger ends, in all they say or do. + +God will be steady to us; why should not we resolve to be so to Him? and +this covenant will be stedfast and uniform unto us, why should not we +resolve to be so too, and in this covenant? The covenant will not be our +friend to-day, and our enemy to-morrow, do us good to-day, and hurt +to-morrow, it will not be the fruitful this year, and barren the next; +but it is our friend to do us good to-day, and ever. It is fruitful and +will be so for ever. We need not let it lie fallow, we cannot take out +the heart of it, tho' we should have occasion to plough it, and sow it +every year. Much less will this covenant be so unstedfast to its own +principles, as to yield us wheat to-day, and cockle to-morrow, an egg +to-day, and to-morrow a scorpion; now bread, and anon a stone; now give +us an embrace, and anon a wound; now help on our peace, and anon embroil +us; now prosper our reformation, and anon oppose, or hinder it; +strengthen us this year, and weaken us the next. No, as it will never be +barren, so it will ever bring forth the same fruit, and that good fruit; +and the more and the longer we use it, the better fruit. Like the +faithful wife, "It will do us good, and not evil, all the days of its +life." It is therefore, not only sinful, but most unsuitable and +uningenuous, for us to be up and down, forward and backward, liking and +disliking, like that double minded man, "Unstable in all our ways," +respecting the duties of this covenant. + +3. Walk believingly, live much in the exercise of faith. As we have no +more good out of the covenant of God, than we have faith in it; so no +more good out of our own, than (in a due sense) we have faith in it. +There is as much need of faith, to improve this covenant, as there is of +faithfulness. We live no more in the sphere of a covenant, than we +believe. And we can make no living out of it but by believing. All our +earnings come in here also, more by our faith, than by our works. Let +not the heart of God be straitened, and His hand shortened by our +unbelief. Where Christ marvelled at the unbelief of a people, consider +what a marvel followed: Omnipotence was as one weak. "He could do no +mighty works among them." Works less than mighty will not reach our +deliverances or procure our mercies. The ancient worthies made more use +of their faith, than to be saved, and get to heaven by it. "By faith the +walls of Jericho fell down. By faith they subdued kingdoms, wrought +righteousness, (or exercised justice) stopped the mouths of lions. By +faith they quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, +out of weakness they were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to +flight the armies of the aliens." We have Jerichos to reduce, and +kingdoms to subdue, under the sceptre and government of Jesus Christ: we +have justice to execute, and the mouths of lions to stop: we have a +violent fire to quench, a sharp edged sword to escape, Popish alien +armies to fight with; and we (comparatively to these mighty works) are +but weak. How then shall we out of our weakness become strong, strong +enough to carry us through these mighty works, strong enough to escape +these visible dangers? If we walk and work by sense, and not by faith? +And if we could get through all these works and dangers without faith, +we should work but like men, not at all like Christians, but like men in +a politic combination, not in a holy covenant. There's not a stroke of +covenant work (purely so called) can be done without faith. As fire is +to the chemist, so is faith to a covenant people. In that capacity, they +can do nothing for themselves without it; and they have, they can have, +no assurance that God will. Seeing then we are in covenant, we must go +to counsel by faith, and to war by faith; we must pull down by faith, +and build by faith; we must reform by faith, and settle our peace by +faith. Besides, to do a work so solemn and sacred, and then not to +believe and expect no fruit; yea, then to believe and expect answerable +fruit, is a direct taking of God's name in vain, and a mock to Jesus +Christ. And if we mock Christ by calling Him to a covenant, which we +ourselves slight, as a thing we expect little or nothing from: "He will +laugh at our calamity," and "mock when our fear cometh." Wherefore to +close, "If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established," no, +not by this sure covenant. But, "believe in the Lord your God, in +covenant, so shall you be established; believe His prophets, so shall +you prosper." + +4. Walk cheerfully. So it becomes those that have God so near them. +Such, even in their sorrows, should be like Paul, "As sorrowful, yet +always rejoicing." The (as) notes not a counterfeiting of sorrow, but +the overcoming of sorrow. On this ground David resolves against the fear +of evil, tho' he should see nothing but evil; "Tho' I walk in the valley +of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me." In a +covenant, God and man meet; He is with us who is more than all that are +against us: and when He is with us, who can be against us? For then all +things, and all persons, even while (to the utmost of their skill and +power) they set themselves against us, work for us; and should not we +rejoice? If we knew that every loss were our gain, every wound our +healing, every disappointment our success, every defeat our victory, +would we not rejoice? Do but know what it is to be in covenant with God; +and be sad, be hopeless, if you can. It is to have the strength and +counsels of heaven engaged for you; it is to have Him for you, "Whose +foolishness is wiser than men, and whose weakness is stronger than men." +It is to have Him with you, "who doeth according to His will in the army +of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth, and none can stay His +hand, or say unto Him, what doest thou?" It is to have Him with you, +"who frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh the diviners mad, +who turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish." It +is to have Him with you, before whom "the nations are as the drop of a +bucket, and as the dust of the balance, who taketh up the isles as a +very little thing." In a word, it is to have Him with you, "who fainteth +not, neither is weary; there is no searching of His understanding. He +giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might, He increaseth +strength." This God is our God, our God in covenant; "This is our +beloved and this is our Friend, O daughters of Jerusalem." And shall we +not rejoice? Shall we not walk cheerfully? Tho' there be nothing but +trouble before our eyes, yet our hearts should live in those upper +regions, which are above storms and tempests, above rain and winds, +above the noise and confusions of the world. Why should sorrow sit +clouded in our faces, or any darkness be in our hearts, while we are in +the shine and light of God's countenance? It is said, "That all Judah +rejoiced at the oath; for they had sworn with all their heart:" If we +have sworn heartily, we shall rejoice heartily. And for ever banish base +fears, and killing sorrows from our hearts; and wipe them from our +faces. They, who have unworthy fears in their hearts, give too fair an +evidence that they did not swear with their hearts. + +5. Walk humbly and dependently; rejoice, but be not secure. Trust to God +in covenant, not to your covenant. Make not your covenant your Christ; +no, not for this temporal salvation. As a horse trusted to, is a vain +thing to save a man, so likewise is a covenant trusted to; neither can +it deliver a nation by its great strength: tho' indeed the strength of +it be greater than the strength of many horses. "In vain is salvation +hoped for from this hill, or from a multitude of mountains," heaped up +and joined in one by the bond of this covenant. Surely in the Lord our +God, our God in covenant, is the salvation of England. We cannot trust +too much in God, nor too little in the creature; there is nothing breaks +the staff of our help, but our leaning upon it. If we trust in our +covenant, we have not made it with God, but we have made it a god; and +every god of man's making, is an idol, and so nothing in the world: you +see, pride in, or trust to this covenant will make it an idol, and then +in doing all this, we have done nothing; for "an idol is nothing in the +world." And of nothing, comes nothing. By overlooking to the means, we +lose all; and by all our travail shall bring forth nothing but wind: it +will not work any deliverance in the land. Wherefore, "rest not in the +thing done, but get up, and be doing," which is the last point, and my +last motion about your walking in covenant. + +6. Walk industriously and diligently in this covenant. You were +counselled before to stand to the covenant, but take heed of standing in +it. Stand, as that is opposed to defection; but if you stand as that is +opposed to action, you are at the next door to falling. A total neglect +is little better than total apostasy. + +We have made a perpetual covenant, never to be forgotten, as was shewed +out of the prophet. It is a rule, that words in scripture, which express +only an act of memory, include action and endeavours. When the young man +is warned to "remember his Creator in the days of his youth," he is also +charged to love, and to obey Him. And while we say, this covenant is +never to be forgotten; we mean, the duties of it are ever to be pursued, +and, to the utmost of our power, fulfilled. As soon as it is said that +Josiah made all the people stand to the covenant; the very next words +are, "and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of +God, the God of their fathers." They stood to it, but they did not, like +those, "stand all the day idle;" they fell to work presently. And so let +us. Having laid this foundation, a sure covenant, now let us arise and +build, and let our hands be strong. Do not think that all is done, when +this solemnity is done, It is a sad thing to observe how some, when they +have lifted up their hands, and written down their names, think +presently their work is over. They think, now surely they have satisfied +God and man for they have subscribed the covenant. + +I tell you, nay, for when you have done taking the covenant, then your +work begins. When you have done taking the covenant, then you must +proceed to acting the covenant. When an apprentice has subscribed his +name, and sealed his indentures, doth he then think his service is +ended? No, then he knows his service doth begin. It is so here. We are +all sealing the indentures of a sacred and noble apprenticeship to God, +to these churches and commonwealths; let us then go to our work, as +bound, yet free. Free to our work, not from it; free in our work, +working from a principle of holy ingenuity, not of servility, or +constraint. The Lord threatens them with bondage and captivity, who will +not be servants in their covenant, with readiness and activity. "I, +saith the Lord, will give the men that have transgressed My covenant, +which have not performed the words of the covenant, which they had made +before Me, when they cut the calf in twain, and passed between the parts +thereof; the princes of Judah, and the princes of Jerusalem, the +eunuchs, and the priests, and all the people of the land, which passed +between the parts of the calf, I will even give them into the hand of +their enemies, and into the hand of them that seek their life, and their +dead bodies shall be meat to the fowls of the air, and the beasts of the +earth." Words that need no rhetoric to press them, nor any comment to +explain them: they are so plain, that every one may understand them; and +so severe, that every one, who either transgresses, or performs not, who +doeth any thing against, or nothing for the words of this covenant, hath +just cause to tremble at the reading of them: I am sure, to feel them +will make him tremble. Seeing then our princes, our magistrates, our +ministers, and our people, have freely consented to, written, and sworn +this covenant; let us all in our several places, be up and doing, that +the Lord may be with us; not sit still and do nothing, and so cause the +Lord to turn against us. + +You that are for consultation, go to counsel; you that are for +execution, go on to acting; you that are for exhorting the people in +this work, attend to exhortation; you that are soldiers, draw your +swords; you that have estates, draw your purses; you that have strength +of body, lend your hands; and all you that have honest hearts, lend your +prayers, your cries, your tears, for the prosperous success of this +great work. And the Lord prosper the works of all our hands, the Lord +prosper all our handy-works. _Amen._ + + + + +THE SOLEMN LEAGUE AND COVENANT. + +SERMON AT LONDON. + +_BY THOMAS CASE_[13] + +"And I will bring a sword upon you that shall avenge the quarrel of My +covenant."--_Lev._ xxvi. 25. + + +Since covenant-violation is a matter of so high a quarrel as for the +avenging whereof, God sends a sword upon a church or nation: for which, +it is more than probable, the sword is upon us at this present, it +having almost devoured Ireland already, and eaten up a great part of +England also, let us engage our council, and all the interest we have in +heaven and earth, for the taking up of this controversy; let us consider +what we have to do, what way there is yet left us, for the reconciling +of this quarrel, else we, and our families, are but the children of +death and destruction: this sword that is drawn, and devoured so much +Christian protestant flesh already, will, it is to be feared, go quite +thro' the land, and, in the pursuit of this quarrel, cut off the +remnant, till our land be so desolate, and our cities waste, and +England be made as Sodom and Gomorrah, in the day of the fierce anger of +Jehovah. + +Somewhat I have spoken already in the former use, to this purpose viz. +"To acknowledge our iniquities that we have transgressed against the +Lord our God." To get our hearts broken, for breaking the covenant; to +lay it so to heart, that God may not lay it to our charge. But this +looks backward. Somewhat must be done, _de futuro_: for time to come: +that may not only compose the quarrel, but lay a sure foundation of an +after peace between God and the kingdom. And for that purpose, a mean +lies before us; an opportunity is held forth unto us by the hand of +divine wisdom and goodness, of known use and success among the people of +God in former times; which is yet to me a gracious intimation, and a +farther argument of hope from heaven, that God has not sworn against us +in His wrath, nor sealed us up a people devoted to destruction, but hath +yet a mind to enter into terms of peace and reconciliation with us, to +receive us into grace and favour, to become our God, and to own us for +His people; if yet, we will go forth to meet Him, and accept of such +honourable terms as shall be propounded to us: and that is, by renewing +our covenant with Him; yea, by entering into a more full and firm +covenant than ever heretofore. For, as the quarrel was raised about the +covenant, so it must be a covenant more solid and substantial, that must +compose the quarrel, as I shall show you hereafter. And that is the +service and the privilege that lies before us; the work of the next day. +So that, me-thinks, I hear this use of exhortation, which now I would +commend unto you speaking unto us in that language; "Come, let us join +ourselves to the Lord in a perpetual covenant that shall not be +forgotten." It is the voice of the children of Israel, and the children +of Judah, returning out of captivity. "The children of Israel shall +come, they, and the children of Judah together; seeking the Lord," whom +they had lost, and inquiring the way to Zion; from whence their idolatry +and adulteries had cast them out; themselves become now like the doves +of the valley, mourning and weeping, because they had perverted their +way, and forgotten the Lord their God. "Going and weeping they shall go, +and seek the Lord their God. They shall ask the way to Zion with their +faces thitherward." And if you inquire when this should be? The fourth +verse tells you, in those days. And if you ask again, what days those +are? Interpreters will tell us of a threefold day, wherein this prophecy +or promise is to be fulfilled; that is, the literal or inchoative, +evangelical or spiritual, universal or perfect day. + +The first day is a literal or inchoative day, here prophesied of, and +that is already past, past long since; viz., in that day wherein the +seventy years of the Babylonian captivity expired; then was this +prophecy or promise begun in part to be accomplished: at what time the +captivity of Judah, and divers of Israel with them, upon their return +out of Babylon, kept a solemn fast at the river "Ahava, to afflict their +souls before their God." There may you see them going and weeping, "to +seek of Him a right way for them, and their little ones." There you have +them seeking the Lord, and inquiring the way to Zion with their faces +thitherward. And when they came home, you may hear some of their nobles +and priests, calling upon them to enter into covenant; so Shechaniah +spake unto Ezra, the princes, and the people, "We have sinned against +the Lord, ... yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing. Now +therefore let us make a covenant with our God." And so you may find the +Levites calling the people to confess their sins with weeping and +supplications, in a day of humiliation, and at the end of it, to write, +and swear, and seal a covenant with "the Lord their God." This was the +first day wherein this prophecy began to be fulfilled, in the very +letter thereof. + +The second day is the evangelical day, wherein this promise is fulfilled +in a gospel or spiritual sense; namely, when the elect of God, of what +nation or language soever, being all called the Israel of God, as is +prophesied, "One shall say, I am the Lord's; and another shall call +himself by the name of Jacob, ... and surname himself by the name of +Israel." I say, when these in their several generations and successions +shall turn to the Lord their God, either from their Gentilism and +paganism, as in their first conversion to Christianity; as Tertullian +observes after the resurrection of Christ, and the mission of the Holy +Ghost; _Aspice exinde universas nationes ex veragine erroris humani +emergentes ad Dominum Deum, et ad Dominum Christum ejus_. From that day +forward, you might behold poor creatures of all nations and languages, +creeping out of their dark holes and corners of blindness and idolatry, +and betaking them to God and His Son Jesus Christ, as to their Law-giver +and Saviour; or else turning from Antichristian superstition, and false +ways of worship, as in the after and more full conversion of churches or +persons purging themselves more and more, from the corruptions and +mixtures of popery and superstitions, according to the degree of light +and conviction, which should break out upon them, and asking the way to +Zion, _i.e._, the pure way of gospel worship, according to the fuller +and clearer manifestations and revelations of the mind of Christ in the +gospel. This was fulfilled in Luther's time, and in all those after +separations which any of the churches have made from Rome, and from +those relics and remains of superstition and will-worship, wherewith +themselves and the ordinances of Jesus Christ have been denied. + +The third day wherein this prophecy or promise is to be made good, is +that universal day, wherein both Jew and Gentile shall be converted +unto the Lord. That day of the restitution of all things, as some good +divines conceive when "ten men out of all languages of the nations, +shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go +with you; for we have heard that God is with you." And to what purpose +is more fully expressed in the former verses, answering the prophecy in +the text. "Thus saith the Lord of Hosts, it shall come to pass, that +there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities: and the +inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily +to pray before the Lord, and to seek the Lord of Hosts; I will go also. +Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of Hosts +in Jerusalem, and to pray before the Lord." + +This I call the universal day, because, as you see, there shall be such +an abundance of confluence of cities, and people, and nations, combining +together in an holy league and covenant, to seek the Lord. And a perfect +day, because the mind and will of the Lord shall be fully revealed and +manifested to the saints, concerning the way of worship and government +in the churches. The new Jerusalem, _i.e._ the perfect, exact, and +punctual model of the government of Christ in the churches, shall then +be let down from Heaven. "The light of the moon being then to be as the +light of the sun, and the light of the sun sevenfold, as the light of +seven days, in the day that the Lord bindeth up the breach of His +people, and healeth the stroke of their wound." + +By what hath been spoken, you may perceive under which of these days we +are: past indeed the first, but not yet arrived at the third day; and +therefore under the second day, that evangelical day; yet so, as if all +the three days were met together in ours, while it seems to me, that we +are upon the dawning of the third day: and this prophecy falling so pat, +and full upon our times, as if we were not got beyond the literal; a +little variation will do it. The children of Israel, and the children +of Judah: Scotland and England, newly coming out of Babylon, +antichristian Babylon, papal tyranny and usurpations, in one degree or +other, going and weeping in the days of their solemn humiliations, +bewailing their backslidings and rebellions, to seek the Lord their God, +to seek pardon and reconciliation, to seek His face and favour, not only +in the continuance, but in the more full and sweet influential +manifestations of His presence among them; and to that end, asking the +way to Zion with their faces thitherward; that is, inquiring after the +pure way of gospel worship, with full purpose of heart; that when God +shall reveal His mind to them, they will conform themselves to His mind +according to that blessed prophecy and promise, "He will teach us of His +ways, and we will walk in His paths." And that they may make all sure, +that they may secure God and themselves against all future apostasies +and backslidings, calling one upon another, and echoing back one to +another: "Come, let us join ourselves to the Lord, in a perpetual +covenant that shall not be forgotten." + +You see by this time I have changed my text, tho' not my project; to +which purpose I shall remember that, in the handling of these words, I +must not manage my discourse, as if I were to make a new entire sermon +upon the text, but only to improve the happy advantages it holds forth, +for the pursuit and driving on of my present use of exhortation. Come, +let us join. To this end therefore, from these words, I will propound +and endeavour to satisfy these three queries, 1. What? 2. Why? 3. How? + +I. What the duty is, to which they mutually stir up one another? + +II. Why, or upon what considerations? + +III. How, or in what manner this service is to be performed? And in all +these you shall see what proportion the text holds with the times. The +duty in our text, with the duty in our hands, pressing them on still in +an exhortatory way. + +For the first. What the duty is? + +_Answ._ You see that in the text; it is to join themselves to the Lord, +by a solemn covenant; and so is that which we have now in our hands, to +join ourselves to the Lord by a covenant; how far they correspond, will +appear in the sequel. This is the first and main end of a covenant +between God and His people, as I have shewed you, "to join themselves to +the Lord. The sons of the stranger that join themselves to the Lord, and +take hold of His covenant." + +This, I say, is the first and main end of the covenant in the text: the +second is subordinate unto it; namely, to inquire the way to Zion, +_i.e._, to inquire the way and manner, how God would be worshipped; that +they might dishonour and provoke Him no more, by their idolatries and +superstitions, which had been brought in upon the ordinances of God, by +the means of apostate kings, and priests, and prophets, as in Jeroboam's +and Ahab's reigns, and for which they had been carried into captivity. + +And such is the covenant that lies before us: in the first place, as I +say, to join ourselves to the Lord, to be knit inseparably unto Him, +that He may be our God, and we may be His people. And in the next place, +as subservient hereunto, to ask the way to Zion; to inquire and search +by all holy means, sanctified to that purpose, what is that pure way of +gospel worship; that we and our children after us may worship the God of +spirits, the God of truth, in spirit, and in truth. In spirit opposed to +carnal ways of will-worship, and inventions of men; and in truth, +opposed to false hypocritical shews and pretences, since the Father +seeks such to worship Him. + +Now, that this is the main scope and aim of this covenant before us, +will appear, if you read and ponder it with due consideration; I will +therefore read it to you distinctly, this evening, besides the reading +of it again to-morrow, when you come to take it; and when I have read +it, I will answer the main and most material objections, which seem to +make it inconsistent with these blessed ends and purposes. Attend +diligently while I read it to you. + +(The covenant was then read.) + +This brethren, is the covenant before us; to which God and His +parliament do invite us this day; wherein the ends propounded lie fair +to every impartial eye. + +The first article in this covenant, binding us to the reformation of +religion; and the last article, to the reformation of our lives. In +both, we join ourselves to the Lord, and swear to ask and receive from +His lips the law of this reformation. Truly, this is a why, as well as a +what, (that I may a little prevent myself) a motive of the first +magnitude. Oh! for a people or person to be joined unto the Lord; to be +made one with the most high God of heaven and earth, before whom and to +whom we swear, is a privilege of unspeakable worth and excellency. +"Seemeth it (said David once to Saul's servants) a small thing in your +eyes, to be son-in-law to a king," seeing I am a poor man? Seemeth it, +may I say, a small thing to you, for poor creatures to be joined, and +married, as it were, to the great God, the living God; who are so much +worse than nothing, by how much sin is worse than vanity? yea, to be one +with Him as Christ saith in that heavenly prayer of His; as He and His +Father are one. "That they may be one, as Thou Father art in Me, and I +in Thee; that they also may be one in us." And again, "that they may be +one, even as we are one." Yea, perfect in one; not indeed, in the +perfection of that unity, but in unity of that perfection; not made +perfect in a perfection of equality, but of conformity. + +This is the fruit of a right managed covenant; and the greatest honour +that poor mortality is capable of. Moses stands admiring of it. You may +read the place at your leisure. But, against this blessed service and +truth, are there mustered and led up an whole regiment of objections, +under the conduct of the father of lies; though some of them may seem to +have some shadow of truth; and therefore so much the more carefully to +be examined. I shall deal only with some of the chief commanders of +them, if they be conquered the rest will vanish of their own accord. + + +OBJECTIONS PROPOUNDED AND ANSWERED. + +_Object._ 1. If this were the end of this service, yet it were needless: +since we have done it over and over again, in our former protestations +and covenants; and so this repetition may seem to be a profanation of so +holy an ordinance, by making of it so ordinary, and nothing else, but a +taking of God's name in vain. To this I answer. + +_Answ._ 1. It cannot be done too oft; if it be done according to the law +and order of so solemn an ordinance. 2. The people in the text might +have made the same objection; it lay as strong against the work, to +which they encourage one another: for surely, this was not the first +time they engaged themselves to God by way of covenant; but having +broken their former covenants, they thought it their privilege, and not +their burden to renew it again, and to make it more full, stable, and +impregnable than ever; "a perpetual covenant that shall not be +forgotten"; which hints 3. And that is, there was never yet so full and +strict a covenant tendered to us since we were a people. Former +covenants have had their defect and failings, like the best of God's +people: but I may say of this in reference to other covenants, as +Solomon of his good house-wife, in reference to other women; "Other +daughters have done well, but thou hast exceeded them all." Other +covenants have done well, but this hath exceeded them all; like Paul +among the apostles, it goes beyond them all, though it seems to be born +out of due time. Now, if your leases and covenants among men be either +lame or forfeited; need men persuade you to have them renewed and +perfected? Of how much greater concernment is this, between God and us, +O! ye of little faith? 4. You receive the sacrament of the Lord's supper +once a month, and some will not be kept off, tho' they have no part, nor +portion in that mystery, say the ministers of Christ what they can; and +the sacrament is but the seal of the covenant; consider it, and be +convinced. + +_Object._ 2. But secondly, it is objected there be some clauses in this +covenant, that serve rather to divide us farther from God, than join us +nearer to Him; as binding us to inquire the way to Zion of men rather +than of God; to receive the law of reformation from Scotland, and other +churches, and not from the lips of the great prophet of the churches. + +In the article, we swear first to maintain the religion, as it is +already reformed in Scotland, in doctrine, government, and discipline; +wherein, first, the most shall swear they know not what; and secondly, +we swear to conform ourselves here in England, to their government and +discipline in Scotland which is presbyterial, and for ought we know, as +much tyrannical, and more antichristian than that of prelacy, which we +swear to extirpate; yea, some have not been afraid to call it the +Antichrist that is now in the world. + +_Answ._ 1. To whom I first answer, beseeching them in the bowels of +compassion, and spirit of meekness, to take heed of such rash and +unchristian censures, least God hear, and it displease Him; and they +themselves possibly be found to commit the sin and incur the woe of them +that "call evil good, and good evil." 2. Whereas they object that many +shall swear they know not what, the most being totally ignorant of the +discipline of Scotland, and very few understanding it distinctly. I +would have these remember and consider two examples in Scripture the one +of king Josiah, the other of the women and children in Nehemiah's time. +Josiah (as the text tells us) not being above eight years of age, "While +he was yet young, began to seek after the Lord God of David his father; +and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem." And this +purging and reformation he did by covenant, wherein he swore, to "walk +after the Lord, and to keep His commandments, and His testimonies, and +His statutes." Which surely, at that age, we cannot conceive he did +distinctly and universally understand; no more could all the men, their +wives and their sons, and their daughters, that took the covenant (in +Nehemiah's time) understand all things in particular to which that +covenant did bind them; since they did enter into a curse, and an oath, +not only to refuse all intermarriages with the heathen, but also to walk +in God's law, which was given by Moses, and to observe and do all the +commandments of the Lord, and His judgments, and His statutes. + +Surely there were in this multitude, not an inconsiderable number that +were not acquainted with all the moral precepts, judicial laws, and +ceremonial statutes, which God commanded the people by the hand of +Moses. + +There be two things I know, that may be replied against these instances. +1. That of those women and children in Nehemiah, it is said in the same +place, they were of understanding, "Every one having knowledge, and +having understanding; they clave unto their brethren, their nobles, and +entered into a curse." 2. That there is a great difference between the +laws and statutes to which they swore, and this government and +discipline to which we swear in this covenant. Those laws and statutes +were ordained immediately of God Himself; and therefore being infallibly +right, unquestionably holy, and just, and good, Josiah and the people +might lawfully swear observance to them with an implicit faith; but not +so in a government and discipline set up by man, by a church, be it +never so pure and holy: for their light being but a borrowed light, and +they not privileged with an infallible Spirit (as the apostles) their +resolutions and ordinances may be liable to mistake and error; and +therefore, to swear observance to them by an implicit faith, is more +than comes to their share, and as unwarrantable as it is unsafe for a +people or person to do, who are yet ignorant or unsatisfied in the +whole, or in any particular. + +To these objections I rejoin: _first_, that that description of the +covenanters in Nehemiah, that "they were of understanding, and +knowledge," supposeth not a distinct actual cognizance of every +particular ordinance, judgment, statute, and provision, in all the three +laws, moral, judicial, ceremonial, in every one that took the covenant; +that being not only needless but impossible; but it implies only a +capacity to receive instruction and information in the things they swore +unto, tho' at present they were ignorant of many of the severals +contained in that oath. And so far this rule obtains among us; children +that are not yet come to understanding, and fools, being not admitted to +this service, as not capable of instruction. + +_Answ._ 2. To the second (tho' more considerable) yet the answer is not +very difficult: for, + +_First_, We do not swear to observe that discipline, but to preserve it: +I may preserve that, which in point of conscience I cannot observe, or +not, at least, swear to observe. _Second_, We swear to preserve it, not +in opposition to any other form of government that may be found +agreeable to the Word, but in opposition against a common enemy, which +is a clause of so wide a latitude, and easy a digestion, as the +tenderest conscience need not kick at it; this preservation relating not +so much to the government, as to the persons or nation under this +government; not so much to preserve it as to preserve them in it, +against a prelatical party at home, or a popish party abroad, that +should attempt by violence to destroy them, or to force another +government upon them, that should be against the Word of God; under +which latitude, I see not but we might enter into the like covenant with +Lutherans, or other reformed churches, whose government, discipline, and +worship, is yet exceedingly corrupted with degenerate mixtures. + +_Third_, Neither in the preservation of their government, nor in the +reformation of ours, do we swear to any thing of man's; but to what +shall be found to be the mind of Christ. Witness that clause, article 1: +"According to the word of God:" so that upon the matter, it is no more +than Josiah and the people in Nehemiah swore to; namely, "what shall +appear to be the statutes and laws which Christ hath left in His Word, +concerning the regimen of His church?" + +_Fourth_, Nay, not so much; for we are not yet called to swear the +observation of any kind of government, that is or shall be presented to +us, but to endeavour the reformation of religion in doctrine, worship, +discipline, and government, according to the Word of God. + +In the faithful and impartial search and pursuit whereof, if Scotland, +or any of the reformed churches, can hold us forth any clearer light +than our own, we receive it not as our rule, but as such an help to +expound our rule, as Christ Himself hath allowed us. In which case, we +are bound to kiss not the lips only, but the very feet of them that +shall be able to shew us "the way to Zion." + +So that still, it is not the voice of the churches but of Christ in the +churches, that we covenant to listen to, in this pursuit; that is to +say, that we will follow them, as they follow Christ: and when all is +done, and a reformation (through the assistance and blessing of the Lord +Jesus Christ, that great king and prophet of His church) resolved on +according to this rule thus interpreted, under what notion or obligation +the observation of it shall be commended to us, _sub judice lis est_, +it is yet in the bosom and breast of authority; we are as yet called to +swear to nothing in this kind. So much in reference to the instances. + +_Answ._ 3. I answer further to the satisfying of this second doubt, that +by this covenant, we are bound no more to conform to Scotland, than +Scotland to us: the stipulation being mutual, and this stipulation +binding us not so much to conform one to another, as both of us to the +Word; wherein, if we can meet, who would not look upon it, as upon the +precious fruit of Christ's prayer: "That they might be one, as we are +one?" and the beauty and safety of both nations, and of as many of the +churches as the Lord our God shall persuade to come into this holy and +blessed association? + +_Object._ 3. A third objection falls upon the second article or branch +of this covenant; wherein it is feared by some, that we swear to +extirpate that which, for ought we know, upon due inquiry, may be found +the way to Zion, the way of evangelical government, which Christ and His +apostles have set up in the church. + +_Answ._ Where lies that, think you? In what clause or word of the +article? Who can tell? Surely not in popery; or if there be any that +think that the way, I would wish their persons in Rome, since their +hearts are there already. Is it in superstition? Nay, superstition +properly consisteth in will-worship, "teaching for doctrine the +traditions of men;" this cannot be the way to Zion, which Christ hath +chalked out to us in His word. No more can heresy, which is the +opposition to sound doctrine; nor schism, which is the rent of the +church's peace; nor profaneness, the poison of her conversation. None +but superstitious heretics, schismatics, profane persons, will call +these the way to Zion; nor these neither, under the name and notion of +superstition, heresy, schism, profaneness; for the heretic will not call +his doctrine heresy; nor the superstitious, his innovation superstition; +nor the schismatic, his turbulent practices schism; nor lastly, the +profane person, his lewdness profaneness; tho' they love the thing, they +hate the name. + +And this, before we go further, occasions another objection, which you +must give me leave both to make and answer in a parenthesis, and then I +will return. + +_Object._ How can we swear the extirpation of these, since, who shall be +judge? While some will be ready to call that schism and superstition, +which is not; and others deny that to be heresy, superstition, schism, +which is? + +_Answ._ 1. To which I answer, By the same argument, we ought not to +covenant against popery and drunkenness, sabbath-breaking, nor any other +sin whatsoever, there being nothing so gross but it will find some +friends to justify, and plead for it; which if we shall not condemn till +all parties be agreed on the verdict, we shall never proceed to +judgment, while the world stands. 2. The word must be the rule and the +judge, say men what they please, _pro_ or _con_. 3. And if the matter be +indeed so disputable, that it lies not in my faculty to pronounce +sentence, I have my dispensation to suspend, till the world determine +the controversy. + +I now return; if then in none of these, the doubt must of necessity lie +in that word prelacy. And is that indeed the way of gospel government? +Is that it indeed which bears away the bell of _jure divino_? What is it +then that hath destroyed all gospel order, and government and worship, +in these kingdoms, as in other places of the Christian world, even down +to the ground? Hath it not been prelacy? What is it that hath taken down +a teaching ministry, and set up in the room a teaching-ceremony? Is it +not prelacy? What is it that hath silenced, suspended, imprisoned, +deprived, banished, so many godly, learned, able ministers of the +gospel; yea, and killed some of them with their unheard of cruelties, +and thrust into their places idol, idle shepherds; dumb dogs that +cannot bark (unless it were at the flock of Christ; so they learned of +their masters, both to bark and bite too) greedy dogs that could never +have enough, that did tear out the loins and bowels of their own people +for gain, heap living upon living, preferment upon preferment; swearing, +drunken, unclean priests, that taught nothing but rebellion in Israel, +and caused people to abhor the sacrifice of the Lord: Arminian, popish, +idolatrous, vile wretches, such as, had Job been alive, he would not +have set with the dogs of his flock; who, I say, brought in these? Did +not prelacy? What hath hindered the reformation of religion all this +while in doctrine, government, and worship? Prelacy, a generation of men +they were, that never had a vote for Jesus Christ; yea, what hath +poisoned and adulterated religion in all these branches, and hath let in +popery and profaneness upon the kingdom like a flood, for the raising of +their own pomp and greatness, but prelacy? In a word, prelacy it is, +that hath set its impure and imperious feet, one upon the church, the +other upon the state, and hath made both serve as Pharaoh did the +Israelites, with rigour. Surely, their government hath been a yoke which +neither we nor our fathers were able to bear. + +Now, that which hath done this, and a thousand times more violence and +mischief to Christ and His people, than the tongue or pen of man is able +to express; can that be the way of or to Zion? Can that be the +government of Christ and His Church? + +_Object._ Aye, but there be that will tell us, these have been the +faults of the persons, and not of the calling? + +_Answ._ 1. So cry some indeed, that ye like the men, as well as their +calling, and would justify the persons as well as the office, but that +their wickedness is made so manifest that impudency itself cannot deny +it. But is it indeed only the fault of the men, not of the calling? What +meant then that saying of queen Elizabeth, "That when she had made a +bishop, she had spoiled a preacher?" Was it only a jest? 2. And I wish +we had not too just cause to add, the man too. Surely of the most of +them we may say, as once Arnobius spake of the Gentiles, _apud vos +optimi censentur quos comparatio pessimorum sic facit_. Give me leave to +vary it a little: he was a good bishop, that was not the worst man; but +if there were some of a better complexion, who yet, _apparent rari +nantes in gurgite vasto_, were very rarely discovered in their episcopal +see; yet, 3. Look into their families, and they were for the most part +the vilest in the diocese, a very nest of unclean birds; and, 4. If you +had looked into their courts and consistories, you would have thought +you had been in Caiaphas' hall, where no other trade was driven but the +crucifying of Christ in His members. 5. But fifthly, produce me one in +this last succession of bishops (I hope the last) that had not his hands +imbrued more or less in the blood of the faithful ministry, (I say not +ministers, but ministry) produce a man amongst them all, that durst be +so conscientious as to lay down his bishoprick, rather than he would lay +violent hands upon a non-conforming minister, though he had failed but +in one point of their compass of ceremonies, when their great master, +the pope of Canterbury, commanded it, although both for life, learning, +and orthodox religion, their consciences did compel them to confess with +Pilate, "we find no fault in this just person." I say, produce me such a +bishop amongst the whole bunch, in this latter age, and I will down on +my knees, and ask them forgiveness. Oh! it was sure a mischievous +poisoned soil, in which, whatsoever plant was set did hardly ever thrive +after. 5. But yet further, was not the calling as bad as the men? You +may as well say so of the papacy in Rome, for surely the prelacy of +England, which we swore to extirpate, was the very same fabric and model +of ecclesiastical regimen, that is in that Antichristian world; yea, +such an evil it is that some divines, venerable for their great +learning, as well as for their eminent holiness, did conceive sole +episcopal jurisdiction to be the very seat of the beast, upon which the +fifth angel is now pouring out his vial, which is the reason that the +men of that kingdom "gnaw their tongues for pain, and blaspheme the God +of heaven." + +_Object._ Aye, but it is therefore pleaded further against this clause, +that although it may be prelacy with all its adjuncts and accidents of +archbishops, chancellors, and commissaries, deans, &c., may have haply +been the cause of these evils that have broken in upon us, and perhaps +Antichristian; yet should we therefore swear the extirpation of all +prelacy, or episcopacy whatsoever; since there may be found perhaps in +scripture an episcopacy or prelacy, which, circumcised from these +exuberant members and officers, may be that government Christ hath +bequeathed His church in the time of the gospel? + +_Answ._ Now we shall quickly close this business. For, 1. It is this +prelacy, thus clothed, thus circumstanced, which we swear to extirpate; +read else the clause again, prelacy, that is, church government by +archbishops, bishops, their chancellors. Not every, or all kinds of +prelacy; not prelacy in the latitude of the notion thereof. 2. And +secondly, let us join issue upon this point, and make no more words of +it; if there be an episcopacy or prelacy found in the Word, as the way +of gospel-government, which Christ hath bequeathed the churches, and +this be made appear, we are so far from swearing to extirpate such a +prelacy, as that rather we are bound by virtue of this oath to entertain +it, as the mind and will of Jesus Christ. And this might suffice to +warrant our covenanting to extirpate this prelacy, save that only. + +Yet some seem conscientiously to scruple this in the last place. +_Object._ That they see not what there is to warrant our swearing, to +extirpate that which is established by the law of the land, till the +same law have abolished it. To which I answer, 1. If the law of the land +had abolished it, we need not swear the extirpation of it. 2. In this +oath, the parliaments of both kingdoms go before us, who, having the +legislative power in their hands, have also _potestatem vitae et necis_, +over laws, as well as over persons, and may as well put to death the +evil laws that do offend against the kingdom and the welfare of it, as +the evil persons that do offend against the laws. 3. Who therefore, +thirdly, if they may lawfully annul and abolish laws that are found to +sin against the law of God, and the good of the kingdom may as lawfully +bind themselves by an oath, to use the uttermost of their endeavours to +annul and abolish those laws; their oath being nothing else but a solemn +engagement to endeavour to perform what they have warrantably resolved +upon; and with the same equity may they bind the kingdom to assist them +in so doing. 4. Which is all that the people are engaged to by this +covenant. Not to outrun the parliament in this extirpation, but to +follow and serve them in it, by such concurrence as they may expect from +each person in their stations and callings; for that clause, expressed +in the first and third article, is to be understood in all. + +_Object._ If it be yet objected, that the members of parliament have, at +one time or other, sworn to preserve the laws; and therefore to swear to +endeavour the extirpation of prelacy, which is established by law, is to +contradict their own oath and run the hazard of perjury: it is easy for +any one to observe and answer. 1. That by the same argument, neither may +king and parliament together change or annul a law, though found +destructive to the good of the kingdoms, since his majesty, as well as +his subjects, are bound up under the same oath at his coronation. 2. But +again, there is a vast difference between the members of parliament, +simply considered in their private capacities, wherein they may be +supposed to take an oath to maintain the laws of the land; and that +public capacity of a parliament, whereby they are judges of those laws, +and may, as I said before, endeavour the removal of such as are found +pernicious to the church or state, and make such as will advantage the +welfare of others; his majesty being bound by his coronation-oath, to +confirm these laws, which the commons shall agree upon and present unto +his majesty. + +_Object._ Aye, but it seems this objection lies full and strong upon +them that stand in their single private stations. I answer, that if +there be any such oath, which yet I have never seen nor heard of, unless +the objection mean that clause in the late parliament protestation, +wherein we vow and protest to maintain and defend the lawful rights and +liberties of the subject; surely, neither in that nor this, do we swear +against a lawful endeavour to get any such laws or clause of the law +repealed and abolished, which is found a wrong, rather than a right, and +the bondage, rather than the liberty of the subject, as prelacy was. Had +we indeed taken the bishop's oath, or the like, never to have given our +consent to have the government by episcopacy changed or altered, we had +brought ourselves into a woful snare; but, blessed be God, that snare is +broken, and we are escaped; while, in the mean time without all doubt, +the subject may as lawfully use all lawful means to get that law +removed, which yet he hath promised or sworn to obey, while it remains, +when it proves prejudicial to the public safety and welfare; as a poor +captive, that hath peradventure sworn obedience to the Turk, (while he +remains in his possession) may notwithstanding use all fair endeavours +for an escape or ransom. Or a prentice that is bound to obey his master; +yet, when he finds his service turned into a bondage, may use lawful +means to obtain his freedom. + +But once more to answer both objections; it is worth your inquiry, +whether the plea of a legal establishment of this prelacy, sworn against +in this covenant, be not rather a tradition, than any certain or +confessed truth. Sure I am, we have it from the hands of persons of +worth and honour; the ablest secretaries of laws and antiquities in our +kingdom, that there is no such law or statute to be found upon the file, +among our records. Which assertion, if it cannot find faith, we will +once more join issue with the patrons or followers of this prelacy, upon +this point, that when they produce that law or statute which doth enact +and establish prelacy, as it is here branched in the article, we will +then give them a fuller answer, or yield the question. + +To conclude therefore, since this prelacy in the article, this many +headed monster of archbishops, bishops, their chancellors and +commissaries, deans, deans and chapters, archdeacons, and all other +ecclesiastical officers depending on that hierarchy, is the beast, +wherewith we fight in this covenant, which hath been found so +destructive to church and state; let us not fear to take this sword of +the covenant of God into our hands, and say to this enemy of Christ, as +Samuel said once to Agag, (at what time he said within himself, "surely +the bitterness of death is past") "As thy sword hath made women +childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women." So hath +prelacy flattered itself, finding such a party to stand up on its side +among the rotten lords and commons, the debauched gentry, and abased +people of the kingdom: "Surely the bitterness of death is past." "I sit +as a queen, and shall not know widow-hood, or loss of children." In the +midst of this security and pride, the infallible forerunners of her +downfall, let us call her forth, and say, as thy sword, prelacy, hath +made many women childless, many a faithful minister peopleless, +houseless and libertyless, their wives husbandless, their children and +their congregations fatherless, and pastorless, and guideless; so thy +mother, papacy, shall be made childless among harlots, your diocese +bishopless, and your sees lordless, and your places shall know you no +more. Come, my brethren, I say, and fear not to take this Agag, +(prelacy, I mean, not the prelates) and hew it in pieces before the +Lord. + +_Object._ 4. A fourth and main objection that troubles many, is, that in +the following article there are divers things of another nature that +should fall within the compass of such a covenant, as that which the +text holds forth, "to join ourselves to the Lord." There be +state-matters, and such too, as are full of doubt, and perhaps of +danger, to be sworn unto. I shall answer, first, the general charge, and +then some of the particulars which are most material. In general, I +answer, there is nothing in the body of this covenant which is not +either purely religious, or which lies not in a tendency to religion, +conducing to the securing and promoting thereof. And as, in the +expounding the commandments, divines take this rule, that that command +which forbids a sin, forbids also all the conducibles and provocations +to that sin, all the tendencies to it: and that command which enjoins a +duty, enjoins all the mediums and advancers to that duty; circumstances +fall within the latitude of the command: so in religious covenants, not +only those things which are of the substance and integrals of religion, +but even the collaterals and subserviences that tend either to the +establishing or advancing of religion, may justly be admitted within the +verge and pale of the covenant. The cities of refuge had their suburbs +appointed by God, as well as their habitations, and even they also were +counted holy. The rights and privileges of the parliaments, and the +liberties of the kingdom, mentioned in the third article; they are the +suburbs of the gospel, and an inheritance bequeathed by God to nations +and kingdoms, and, under that notion, holy. Concerning which a people +may lawfully reply to the unjust demands of emperors, kings, or states, +as Naboth once to Ahab, when demanded to yield up his vineyard to his +majesty: "God forbid, that I should give the inheritance of my father." +These be the outworks of religion, the lines of communication, as I may +so say, for the defence of this city; which the prelates well knew, and +therefore you see, it was their great design first, by policy to have +surprised, and, when that would not do, then, by main strength of +battle, to storm these outworks: well knowing, that if they once had won +these, they should quickly be masters also of the holy city, religion +itself, and do what they listed. And, therefore, the securing of these +must of necessity be taken into the same councils and covenant with +religion itself. + +This premised in general, we shall easily and apace satisfy the +particular scruples and queries as I go. + +1. _Scruple._ The most part that swear this covenant are in a great +degree, if not totally, ignorant what the rights and privileges of the +parliament, and the liberties of the kingdoms are, and how can they then +swear to maintain they know not what? + +1. By the same argument no man, or very few, might lawfully swear to +maintain the king's prerogatives in the paths of allegiance and +supremacy; nor the king himself swear to maintain the liberties of the +subject, as he doth in his oath at his coronation. 2. But there is +hardly any person so ignorant but knows there are privileges belonging +to the parliaments, and liberties belonging to the subject. 3. And that +it is the duty of every subject, according to his place and power, to +maintain these; so that, in taking of this covenant, we swear to do no +more than our duty binds us to; in which there is no danger, tho' we do +not in every point know how far that duty extends in every branch and +several thereof. 4. In swearing to do my duty, whether to God or man, if +I be ignorant of many particulars, I oblige myself to these two things. +1. To use the best means to inform myself of the particulars. 2. To +conform myself to what I am informed to be my duty. Which yet, in the +case in hand, doth admit of a further latitude, namely, that which lies +in the very word and letter of this article (as in most of the rest) in +our several vocations; which doth not bind every one to the same degree +of knowledge, nor the same way of preservation: as for example, I do not +conceive every magistrate is bound to know so much, no, nor to endeavour +to know so much, as parliament-men; nor every member of parliament so +much as judges; nor ministers so much as the lawyers; nor ordinary +people so much as ministers; nor servants so much as masters; nor all to +preserve them the same way; parliament-men by demanding them, lawyers by +pleading, judges by giving the sense and mind of the law, ministers by +preaching, magistrates by defending, people by assisting, praying, +yielding obedience. All, if the exigencies arise so high, and the state +call for it, by engaging their estates and lives, in case they be +invaded by an unlawful power. And in case of ignorance, the thing we +bind ourselves to is this, that if at any time any particular shall be +in question, what the parliament shall make appear to be their right or +the liberty of the subject, we promise to contribute such assistance for +the preservation or reparation thereof, as the nature of the thing, and +wisdom of the state shall call for at our hands, in our several places. + +2. _Scruple._ But some are offended, while they conceive in the same +article, that the clause wherein we swear the preservation and defence +of the king's person and authority, doth lie under some restraint, by +that limitation; in the preservation and defence of the true religion, +and the liberties of the kingdom. To which we reply. 1. It maintains him +as far as he is a king: he may be a man, but sure no king, without the +lists and verge of religion and laws, it being religion and laws that +make him a king. 2. It maintains his person and estate, as far as his +majesty himself doth desire and expect to be defended; for, sure his +justice cannot desire to be defended against, but in the preservation of +religion and laws; and his wisdom cannot expect it, since he cannot +believe that they will make conscience of defending his person, who make +no conscience of preserving religion and the laws; I mean, when the ruin +of his person and authority may advance their own cursed designs. They +that, for their ends, will defend his person and authority against +religion and liberties of the kingdom, will with the same conscience +defend their own ends against his person and authority, when they have +power in their hands. The Lord deliver his majesty from such defenders, +by what names or titles soever they be called. 3. Who doubts but that +religion and laws, (wherein the rights and liberties of kingdoms are +bound up) are the best security of the persons and authority of kings +and governors? And the while kings will defend these, these will defend +kings? It being impossible that princes should suffer violence or +indignity, while they are within the munition of religion and laws; or +if the prince suffer, these must of necessity suffer with him. 4. I make +a question, whether this limitation lie any more upon the defence of the +king's person and authority, than it doth upon the rights and privileges +of parliaments, and the liberties of the kingdom, since there is no +point or stop in the article to appropriate it more to the defence of +the king's person and authority, than to the preservation of the rights +and privileges of the parliaments, and the liberties of the kingdoms? 5. +And lastly, this clause is not to be understood exclusive, as excluding +all other cases wherein the kingdoms stand bound to preserve his +majesty's person and authority, but only as expressing that case wherein +the safety of his person and authority doth most highly concern both +king and kingdoms, especially at such a time as this is, when both are +so furiously and implacably encountered by a malignant army of +desperate parricides, papists, and their prelatical party. + +These objections answered, and difficulties removed, we proceed to the +examining of the rest of the particulars, in the following articles. + +The discovery of incendiaries or malignants that have been, or shall be, +to which the fourth article binds us: doth it not lie also in a +necessary tendency to the securing and preserving of this covenant +inviolable with the most high God, in point of reformation? For can we +hope a thorough reformation, according to the mind of Christ, if +opposers of reformation may escape scot-free, undiscovered and +unpunished? Or, can we indeed love or promote a reformation, and in the +mean time countenance or conceal the enemies of it? This is clear, yet +it wants not a scruple, and that peradventure which may trouble a +sincere heart. + +_Object._ It is this, having once taken this oath, if we hear a friend, +or brother, yea, perhaps a father, a husband, or a wife, let fall a word +of dislike of the parliament, or assembly's proceedings in either +kingdom; or that discovers another judgment, or opinion; or a word of +passion unadvisedly uttered, and do not presently discover and complain +of it, we pull upon ourselves the guilt or danger of perjury, which will +be a mighty snare to thousands of well affected people. + +To which I answer. 1. The objection lays the case much more narrow than +the words of the article, which distinguisheth the incendiary or +malignant, which is to be discovered by a threefold character, or note +of malignity. _First_, Hindering the reformation of religion. +_Secondly_, Dividing the king from his people, or one kingdom from +another. _Thirdly_, Making any faction or parties amongst the people, +contrary to the league and covenant. Now, every dislike of some passage +in parliament or assembly's proceedings; every dissent in judgment and +opinion; every rash word or censure, that may possibly be let fall +through passion and inadvertency, will not amount to so high a degree of +malignity as is here expressed, nor consequently bring one within the +compass of this oath and covenant. A suitable and seasonable caution or +conviction may suffice in such a case. + +2. But, suppose the malignity to arise to that height here expressed in +any of the branches thereof; I do not conceive the first work this oath +of God binds us to, is to make a judicial discovery thereof; while, +without controversy, our Saviour's rule of dealing with our brethren in +cases of offence is not here excluded; which is, 1. To see what personal +admonition will do; which, toward a superior, as husband, parent, +master, or the like, must be managed with all wisdom and reverence. If +they hear us, we have made a good day's work of it; we have gained our +brother; if not, then the rule directs us yet. 2. In the second place, +to take with us two or three more; if they do the deed, thou mayest sit +down with peace and thankfulness. 3. If, after all this, the party shall +persist in destructive practices to hinder reformation, to divide the +king from his people, or one kingdom from another; or lastly, to make +factions or parties among the people; be it the man of thine house, the +husband of thy youth, the wife of thy bosom, the son of thy loins: "Levi +must know neither father nor mother," private relations must give way to +public safety; thou must with all faithfulness endeavour the discovery, +thine "eye must not pity nor spare." It is a case long since stated by +God Himself; and when complaint is made to any person in authority, the +plaintiff is discharged, and the matter rests upon the hands of +authority. Provided, notwithstanding, that there be, in the use of all +the former means, that latitude allowed which the apostle gives in case +of heresy; "A first and second admonition." This course, not only the +rule of our Saviour in general, but the very words of the covenant +itself, doth allow, for, though the clause be placed in the sixth +article, yet it hath reference to all, viz., "What we are not able +ourselves to suppress or overcome, we shall reveal and make known." So +that, if the malignity fall within our own or our friends' ability to +conquer, we have discharged our duty to God and the kingdoms, and may +sit down with comfort in our bosoms. + +That which remains in the other two articles, I cannot see how it +affords any occasion of an objection; and the reference it hath to the +reformation and preservation of religion, is easy and clear to any eye, +that is not wilfully blind; the preservation of peace between the two +kingdoms, in the fifth article, being the pillar of religion; for how +can religion and reformation stand, if any blind malignant Samson be +suffered to pull down the pillars of peace and union? Besides, it was a +branch of that very covenant in the text, as well as of that in our +hands. The children of Israel and Judah, which had a long time been +disunited, and in that disunion had many bloody and mortal skirmishes +and battles, now at length by the good hand of God upon them, take +counsel to join themselves, first one to another, and then both unto +God. Let us "join ourselves," and then to "the Lord, in a perpetual +covenant." Surely, not only this copy in the text, but the wormwood and +the gall of our civil combustions and wars, which our souls may have in +remembrance to our dying day, and be humbled within us, may powerfully +persuade us to a cheerful engagement of ourselves, for the preservation +of a firm peace and union between the kingdoms, to all posterity. + +And lastly, as peace is the pillar of religion, so mutual assistance and +defence of all those that enter into this league and covenant, in the +maintaining and pursuance thereof, (mentioned in that sixth and last +article) is the pillar of that peace, _divide et impera_; desert one +another, and we expose ourselves to the lusts of our enemies. And who +can object against the securing of ourselves, and the state, against a +detestable indifferency or neutrality, but they must, _ipso facto_, +proclaim to all the world that they intend before-hand to turn neutrals +or apostates? + +To conclude, therefore, having thus examined the several articles of the +covenant, and the material clauses in those articles; and finding them +to be, if not of the same nature, yet of the same design with the +preface and conclusion; the one whereof, as I told you, at the entrance, +obligeth us to the reformation of religion; the other, of our lives, as +serving to the immediate and necessary support and perfecting of these +blessed and glorious ends and purposes: I shall need to apologise no +further in the vindicating and asserting of this covenant before us. +Could we be so happy, as to bring hearts suitable to this service: could +we set up such aims and ends as the covenant holds forth; the glory of +God, the good of the kingdoms, and honour of the king, to which, this +covenant, and every several part thereof, doth humbly prostrate itself, +all would conspire to make us and our posterity after us, an happy and +glorious people to all generations. + +To them that object out of conscience, these poor resolutions may afford +some relief, if not satisfaction; or, if these slender endeavours fall +short of my design, and the reader's desires herein, I shall send them +to their labours, who have taken more able and fruitful pains in this +subject. To them that object out of a spirit of bitterness and +malignity, nothing will suffice. He that is resolved to err, is +satisfied with nothing but that which strengthens his error. And these I +leave to such arguments and convictions, which the wisdom and justice of +authority shall judge more proper; while I proceed to the second query +propounded, for the managing of this use of exhortation; Why? Or, upon +what considerations we may be persuaded to undertake this service? To +enter into this holy covenant. + +And the first motive that may engage us hereunto is the consideration, +how exceedingly God hath been dishonoured among us, by all sorts of +covenant-violation, as hath been formerly discovered at large; in the +avenging whereof, the angel of the covenant stands, as once at the door +of paradise, with a flaming sword in his hand, ready to cut us off, and +cast us out of this garden of God--this good land wherein He hath +planted us thus long. I may say unto you therefore, concerning +ourselves, as once Moses in another case, concerning Miriam; "If her +father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed?" If our +father had but spit in our face by some inferior correction, should we +not be ashamed? Ought we not to be greatly humbled before Him? How much +more, when "He hath poured out upon us the fury of His wrath, and it +hath burned us; and the strength of battle, and it hath set on fire +round about?" Should we not lay it to heart, and use all means to pacify +the fierceness of His anger, lest it burn down to the very foundations +of the land, and none be able to quench it? + +Yea, secondly, a wonderful mercy, and an high favour we may count it +from God, that yet such a sovereign means is left us for our recovery +and reconciliation. Infinite condescension and goodness it is in our God +that, after so many fearful provocations by our unhallowed and +treacherous dealing in the covenant, He will vouchsafe yet to have any +thing to do with us, that He will yet trust or try us any more, by +admitting us to renew our covenant with His Majesty, when He might in +justice rather say unto us, as to the wicked, "What have you to do, that +you should take My covenant into your mouths, seeing you hate +instruction, and cast My words behind you?" Certainly, had man broken +with us, as oft as we have broken with God, we should never trust them +any more, but account them as the off-scouring of mankind, the vilest, +the basest that ever trode upon God's ground; and yet that after so many +unworthy and treacherous departures from our God, after so much +unfaithfulness and perfidiousness in the covenant, (such as it is not in +the capacity of one man to be guilty of towards another) that God should +say to us, as once to His own people, "Thou hast played the harlot with +many lovers; yet return to Me, saith the Lord:" Oh, wonder of free +grace! Oh, might this privilege be offered to the apostate angels, which +kept not the covenant of their creation, nor consequently their first +estate, and to the rest of the damned souls in hell! Would God send an +angel from heaven to preach unto them a second covenant, upon the laying +hold whereon, and closing wherewith, they might be received into grace +and favour; how would those poor damned spirits bestir themselves! what +rattling of their red-hot chains! what shaking of their fiery locks! In +a word, what an uproar of joy would there be in hell, upon such glad +tidings! how many glorious churches, as Capernaum, Bethsaida, the seven +churches of Asia, with others in latter times, who have for their +covenant-violation been cast down from the top of heaven, where once +they sat in the beauty and glory of the ordinances, to the very bottom +of hell, a dark and doleful condition; and God hath never spoken such a +word of comfort, nor made any such offer of recovery, and reconciliation +unto them, as He hath done to us unto this day? "Surely He hath not +dealt so with any people." Let it be our wisdom, and our thankfulness, +to accept of it, with both hands; yea, both with hands and hearts. If +God give us hearts suitable to this price that is in our hands, +covenanting hearts, as He gives us yet leave and opportunity to renew +our covenant, it will be to me a blessed security that we are not yet a +lost people; and a new argument of hope, that He intends to do England +good. If neglected and despised, whether this may not be the last time +that ever England shall hear from God, I much doubt, unless it be in +such a voice as that is, "I would have healed England, and she will not +be healed; because I would have purged thee, and thou art not purged, +thou shalt not be purged from thy filthiness any more, till I have +caused My fury to rest upon thee." The Lord forbid such a thing: "for, +how shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?" + +_Thirdly_, We may be mightily encouraged to this service, in as much as +it is prophesied of, as the great duty and privilege of gospel-times. +You see the evangelical day, is one of those days wherein this prophecy +and promise must be fulfilled. And it is the same privilege and +happiness which was prophesied of, under the type of the sticks made +one, in the hand of the prophet Ezekiel, (Ezek. xxxvii. 16. 22.) For, +though in the literal sense, it be to be understood, as it is expressed, +of the happy reunion of that unhappy divided seed of Jacob, Joseph and +Ephraim, Israel and Judah; yet in a gospel sense, it is to be applied to +the churches of Jesus Christ, in the latter days, which tho' formerly +divided and miserably torn by unnatural quarrels, and wars, yet Christ, +the King of the Church, hath a day wherein He will make them one in His +own hand: the great and gracious design which we humbly conceive Christ +hath now upon these two nations, England and Scotland, even after all +their sad divisions and civil discords, to make them one in His right +hand, to all generations. And this gives me assurance, that the work +shall go on and prosper, yea, prosper gloriously, it having a stronger +foundation to support it than heaven and earth, for they are upheld but +by a word of power. But this work, which is called the new heavens and +the new earth, is upheld by a word of promise; for "we, according to His +promise, look for new heavens, and a new earth, wherein dwells +righteousness." I say, by a word of prophecy and promise, which, it +seems, is stronger than God Himself; for His word binds Him, so that He +can as soon deny Himself, as deny His promise. There shall be therefore +an undoubted accomplishment of these things, which are told us from the +Lord. God will find, or make a people, who shall worship Him in this +holy ordinance; and upon whom He will make good all the mercy and truth; +all the peace and salvation which is bound up in it: only therefore let +me caution and beseech you, not to be wanting to yourselves and your own +happiness: "Judge not yourselves unworthy of such a privilege," nor +"reject the counsel of God against your own souls; sin not against your +own mercies," by withdrawing yourselves from this service, or rebelling +against it. "God will exclude none, that do not exclude themselves." +Yea, further, this seems to speak an argument of hope, that the calling +of the Jews, and the fulness of the Gentiles, is not far behind; +inasmuch as God begins now to pour out His promise in the text upon the +churches, in a more eminent manner than ever we, or our fathers, saw it +in a gospel sense: and, surely, gospel performance must make way for +that full and universal accomplishment thereof, which shall unite +"Israel and Judah, Jew and Gentile, in one perpetual covenant unto the +Lord, that shall never be forgotten." The gospel day is nothing else but +the dawning of that great universal day in the text, wherein God will +make one glorious Church of Jew and Gentile; the day star whereof is now +risen in our horizon: so that I am humbly confident that the same shores +shall not bound this covenant, which bound the two now covenanting +nations; but, as it is said of the gospel, so it will be verified of +this gospel covenant; "The sound thereof will go into all the earth, and +the words of it to the ends of the world." There is a spirit of prophecy +that doth animate this covenant, which will make it swift and active; +swift to run: "His word runs very swiftly." And active, to work +deliverance and safety not only to these two kingdoms, but to all other +Christian churches groaning under, or in danger of, the yoke of +Antichristian tyranny, whom God shall persuade to join in the same, or +like association and covenant. So that, me-thinks, all that travail with +the Psalmist's desire "of seeing the good of God's chosen, and rejoicing +in the gladness of His nation, and glorying with His inheritance," will +certainly rejoice in this day, and in the goodness of God which hath +crowned it with the accomplishment of such a precious promise as here +lies before us: while none can withdraw from, much less oppose, this +service, but such as bear evil will to Zion, and would be unwilling to +see the ruin and downfall of Antichrist, which this blessed covenant +doth so evidently threaten. + +_Fourthly_, This hath been the practice of all the churches of God, +before and since Christ; after their apostasies, and captivities for +those apostasies, and recoveries out of these captivities, the first +thing they did was to cement themselves to God, by a more close, entire, +and solemn covenant than ever. Nehemiah, Ezra, Hezekiah, Jeremiah, +Josiah, will all bring in clear evidences to witness this practice. +This, latter churches have learned of them, Germany, France, Scotland. +But what shall I need to mention the churches, whenas the God of the +churches took this course Himself; who, when He pleases to become the +God of any people or person, it is by covenant; as with Abraham, +"Behold, I make a covenant with thee." And whatever mercies He bestows +upon them, it is by covenant. All the blessings of God's people are +covenant blessings: to wicked men, God gives with His left hand, out of +the basket of common providence; but to His saints, He dispenseth with +His right hand, out of the ark of the covenant. "I will make an +everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David." + +Yea, which is yet more to our purpose, when the first covenant proved +not, but miscarried, not by any fault that was in the Covenant-Maker, +no, nor simply in the covenant itself; for, if man could have kept it, +it would have given him life; I say, when it was broken, God makes a new +covenant with His people. "Not according to the covenant which I made +with their fathers, which My covenant they brake.... But this shall be +the covenant, ... I will put My law in their inward parts, and write it +in their hearts, and will be their God, and they shall be My people." +Because they could not keep the first covenant, God made a second that +should keep them. Oh! that while we are making a covenant with our God, +He would please to make such a covenant with us; so would it be indeed a +"perpetual covenant, that should not be forgotten." Well, you see we +have a covenanting God, a covenant-making God, and a covenant-renewing +God; be we "followers of God, as dear children:" let us be a covenanting +people, a covenant making, a covenant-renewing people; and as our God, +finding fault with the first, let us make a "new covenant, even a +perpetual covenant, that shall never be forgotten." + +A _fifth_ motive to quicken us to this duty, may be even the practice of +the Antichristian state and kingdom; popery hath been dexterous to +propagate and spread itself by this means. What else have been all their +fraternities and brotherhoods, and societies, but so many associations +and combinations politic, compacted and obliged, by oaths and covenants, +for the advancing of the Catholic cause, whereby nations and kingdoms +have been subdued to the obedience of the Roman mitre? And prelacy (that +whelp) hath learned this policy of its mother papacy (that lioness) to +corroborate and raise itself to that height, we have seen and suffered +by these artifices; while, by close combinations among themselves, and +swearing to their obedience, all the inferior priesthood, and +church-officers, by ordination engagements and oaths of canonical +obedience, a few have been able to impose their own laws and canons, +upon a whole kingdom; yea, upon three kingdoms, it being an +inconsiderable company, either of ministers or people (the Lord be +merciful to us in this thing) that have had eyes to discover the mystery +of iniquity, which these men have driven; and much more inconsiderable, +that have had hearts to oppose and withstand their tyranny and +usurpations. And why may not God make use of the same stratagem to ruin +their kingdom, which they used to build it? Yea, God hath seemed to do +it already, while in that place where they cast that roaring canon, and +formed their cursed oath, for the establishing their Babel prelacy, with +its endless perpetuity. In the very same place hath this covenant been +debated and voted, once, and a second time, by command of public +authority, for the extirpation of it root and branch, and the casting of +it out for ever, as a plant which "our heavenly Father hath not +planted." And who knows, but this may be the arrow of the Lord's +deliverance, which, as it hath pierced to the very heart of prelacy, so +it may also give a mortal wound to the papacy itself, of which it will +never be healed by the whole college of physicians (the Jesuits), who +study the complexion and health of that Babylonian harlot. + +In the sixth and last place, the good success this course hath found in +the churches, may encourage us with much cheerfulness and confidence to +undertake this service. It hath upon it a _probatum est_, from all that +ever conscientiously and religiously used this remedy. It recovered the +state and church of the Jews, again and again, many a time, when it was +ready to give up the ghost; it recovered and kept a good correspondency +between God and them, all the time it was of any esteem and credit +amongst them. It brings letters of testimonial with it, from all the +reformed churches; especially from our neighbour nation and church of +Scotland, where it hath done wonders in recovering that people, when all +the physicians in Christendom had given them over. It is very +remarkable. God promiseth to bring them "into the bond of the covenant;" +and in the next verse it follows, "and I will purge out the rebels from +among you." There is an [and] that couples this duty, and this mercy +together; "I will bring you into the bond," "And I will purge out." The +walls of Jericho have fallen flat before it. The dagon of the bishop's +service-book broke its neck before this ark of the covenant. Prelacy and +prerogative have bowed down, and given up the ghost at its feet. What a +reformation hath followed at the heels of this glorious ordinance! and +truly, even among us, as poorly and lamely, and brokenly, as it hath +been managed among us. I am confident, we had given up the ghost before +this time, had it not been for this water of life. Oh! what glorious +success might we expect, if we did make such cheerful, such holy, such +conscientious addresses, as become the law of so solemn an ordinance! +truly, could I see such a willing people in this day of God's power, as +are here in the text, encouraging and engaging one another, in an holy +conspiracy; "Come, let us join ourselves to the Lord, in a perpetual +covenant;" I have faith enough to promise and prophesy to you in the +name of the Lord, and in the words of His servant Haggai, "From this +very day I will bless you." And that you may know of what sovereignty +this ordinance is; take notice of this, that this is the last physic +that ever the church shall take or need; it lies clear in the text; for +it is an everlasting covenant; and therefore the last that ever shall be +made. After the full and final accomplishment of this promise and duty, +the church shall be of so excellent a complexion, that "the inhabitant +shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein, shall be +forgiven their iniquity." The Lord make it such physic to us for +Christ's sake. + + + + +THE SOLEMN LEAGUE AND COVENANT. + +SERMON AT LONDON. + +_BY THOMAS CASE._ + + +I come now to the third query, how? And this inquiry divides itself into +two branches--How to (I.) Acceptation and (II.) Perpetuity? For the +satisfying of both which, I will fetch as much as may be out of the +text, that so you may yet further behold what proportion there is +between the duty there, and that which lies before us this day. + +In the first place, we must inquire how this duty may be so managed, +that God may accept of us in the doing of it? How to acceptation? + +Now, in the general, we must know that this service, being an ordinance +of God, must be undertaken and managed with an ordinance frame of heart, +_i.e._ according to the laws and rules of divine worship; and by how +much the more sacred and solemn this ordinance is, by so much the more +ought we to call up and provoke the choicest, and heavenliest of those +affections and dispositions of spirit, wherewith we make our +addressments to the holy things of God. + +In particular, _First_, We are to come to this service, with the most +ponderous advisedness, and most serious deliberation of judgment, that +may be. It is one of those grand qualifications which God Himself calls +for to an oath. "Thou shalt swear in truth, in judgment, and in +righteousness." In truth for the matter, and that we have already +examined in the former sermon in righteousness, in reference to the +keeping of the oath (of which hereafter) and in judgment, in respect of +the taking or making of the oath, the thing which we are now about, that +we should well consider what we do. And indeed, if at any time, and in +any undertaking, that advice be useful, "Ponder the path of thy feet," +"And keep thy foot when thou enterest into the house of God;" then +certainly it is most seasonable, when a people or person draw near to +make or renew their covenant with the most high God. And it seems, in +the latter of those two Scriptures now quoted, the Holy Ghost doth +principally refer to this duty of making vows and covenants with God; +the second verse doth intimate such a business, "Be not rash with thy +mouth, and let not thy heart be hasty to utter anything before God." To +utter what? The fourth verse is express, "when thou makest a vow unto +God." So that it is clear, the purpose of the Holy Ghost in that place +is, as in all our holy services, so especially in this of vows, to +caution all the people of God, when they draw near to utter their vows +unto the Lord, to manage it with the greatest deliberation, and +solidness of judgment that is possible; to sit down and consider with +ourselves before hand, with whom we have to deal? What we have to do? +Upon what warrant? By what rule? To what end? "The lame and the blind," +God's soul hates for a sacrifice, The lame affections, and the blind +ignorant judgment. And well He may; for certainly, they that do not +swear in judgment, will not, cannot swear in righteousness; they that do +not make their vows in judgment, will not, cannot pay, or perform them +in righteousness. He that swears he knows not what, will observe he +cares not how. Incogitant making, will end in unconscionable breaking of +covenant; and, if need be, in a cursed abjuration of it; for rash +swearing is a precipice to forswearing. And therefore, if any of you +have not well weighed this service, or be any ways unsatisfied, in +whole, or in parts, I advise you to forbear, till your judgments be +better informed. "Whatsoever is not of faith, is sin." Provided, that +this be not done merely in a pretence to evade and elude this service, +to which God and the two nations call you, as here in the text. "Come, +let us join." Take heed of casting a mist of willing prejudice and +affected ignorance, before your own eyes; such the apostle speaks of, to +no other purpose, but that your own malignity may steal away in that +mist undiscovered; for be sure, your sin will find you out. An ingenious +ignorance and truly conscientious tenderness, is accompanied with an +ingenuous and conscientious use of all means, for information and +satisfaction; and to such, I make no question, the ministers of Christ +will be ready to communicate what light they have, for resolving doubts, +removing scruples, and satisfying conscience, whensoever you shall make +your addresses for that purpose. In the mean time, if there be any that, +under pretence of unsatisfiedness, do shun the duty and information too; +they will be found, but to mock God and authority; to whose justice and +wisdom therefore I must leave them. God tells His people, when He joins +Himself to them, "I will marry thee to Myself, in righteousness, and +judgment." How in judgment? Because God considers what He does, when He +takes a people or person to Himself; not that God chuseth for any wealth +or worth in the creature, faith foreseen, or works foreseen; but that +finding it (on the contrary) poor and beggarly, and undone, and +foreseeing what it is like to prove, crooked and froward, unteachable +and untractable; He sits down to speak after the manner of men, and +considers, what course to take, and what it is like to cost Him, to make +them such a people, as He may delight in, and then consulting with His +treasures, and finding He hath wherewithal to bear their charges, and +to bring about His own ends; He resolves to take them, and marry them to +Himself, whatsoever it cost Him. The result of such a consultation you +may read, dropped from God's own pen, "And I said, how shall I put thee +among the children, and give thee a pleasant land, a goodly heritage of +the hosts of nations?" Here is God's wise deliberation on the matter: +"how shall I put thee?" That is, how shall I do this? But I must do it +to Mine own dishonour; for I see before-hand what thou wilt prove; thou +wilt be the same that ever thou wast; as idolatrous, as adulterous, as +unstable, as backsliding as ever. It is not a pleasant land, a goodly +heritage, that will make thee better. Well, after some pause, God was +resolved what to do: and I said, hear His resolution, "Thou shalt call +Me, my Father, and shalt not turn away from Me:" that is, as if He had +said, I will take this course with thee, I will first give thee the +heart of a child, "thou shalt call Me, Father:" and then I will give +thee the inheritance of a child, "a goodly heritage." And when I have +done; I will not leave thee to thyself, but I will knit thee to Myself, +by an indissoluble union. "I will put My Spirit into thee." "And thou +shalt not turn away from Me." There is God's wise resolution; He +resolves to do all Himself, and then He is sure it will not fail His +expectation; He undertakes it. "Thou shalt call Me, my Father, and shalt +not turn away from Me." Thus God, when He marrieth His people to +Himself, doeth it in judgment. Now therefore, "be ye followers of God, +as dear children." And since you come now about the counterpart of the +same work; namely, to join or marry yourselves to God, do it in +judgment. Consider well what you do; and, among other things, since you +are so poor, and nothing in yourselves, as you have seen in the opening +of this precious Scripture; bethink yourselves where you will have +strength and sufficiency, to make good this great and solemn engagement +with your God. But of this more hereafter. + +_Secondly_, See that you come to this service with a reverential frame +of spirit, with that holy fear and awe, upon your hearts, as becomes the +greatness and holiness of that God, and that ordinance, with whom you +have to do; remembering that you are this day to swear before God, by +God, to God: either of which, singly considered, might justly make us +fear and tremble; how much more may this threefold cord bow and bind our +hearts down in an humble, and holy prosternation? It is said of Jacob, +"He sware by the fear of his father Isaac." Jacob in his oath chooseth +this title of fear, to give unto God, to shew with what fear he came; +but to swear by this God, what should we do; when, as I say, we come to +swear by Him, and to Him? Surely, when He is so especially the object of +our oath, He should then especially be the object of our fear. The +consideration of that infinite distance between God and us, may +wonderfully advantage us towards the getting of our hearts into this +holy posture. Great is that distance that is between a king and a +beggar; and yet, there is but creature and creature; greater is that +distance between heaven and earth; and yet these, but creature and +creature; and yet, greater is the distance between an angel and a worm; +and yet still, there is but creature and creature. But now, the distance +that is between God and us, is infinitely wider; for behold, there is +the "Mighty, Almighty Creator, before whom all the nations are but as a +drop of a bucket, and the small dust of the balance." And the poor +nothing creature, "vanity, and altogether lighter than vanity." And yet, +this is not all; yea, this is the shortest measure of that distance, +whereof we speak; the distance of Creator and the creature; lo, it is +found between God and the angels in heaven, and the "spirits of just men +made perfect;" in respect whereof, the Psalmist saith of God, "He +humbleth Himself to behold the things that are in heaven." It is a +condescension for that infinitely glorious being, who dwells in Himself, +and is abundantly satisfied in the beholding of His own incomprehensible +excellencies, to vouchsafe to look out of Himself, and behold the things +that are in heaven; the best of those glorious inhabitants that stand +round about His throne; who therefore, conscious of that infinite +distance wherein they stand, make their addresses with the greatest +self-abasements, "covering their faces, and casting themselves down" +upon those heavenly pavements. But, behold! upon us, poor wretches, that +dwell here below, in these houses of clay, there is found that which +widens this distance beyond all expression or apprehension; sin sets us +farther beneath a worm, than a worm is beneath an angel. I had almost +said (bear with the expression, I use it, because no other expression +can reach it) sin sets us as much beneath our creatureship, as our +creatureship sets us beneath the Creator. Surely there is more of God to +be seen in the worst of a creature, than there is of a creature to be +seen in the best of sin; there is nothing vile and base enough under +heaven, to make a simile of sin. + +And now, therefore, if it be such a condescension for the great God to +behold the things that are in heaven, how infinite condescension is it, +to behold the sinful things that are on earth! and if sinless saints, +and spotless angels do tender their services, which yet are as spotless +as their persons, with such reverential deportment; what abhorrency and +self-annihilation can be sufficient to accompany our approaches to this +God of holiness, in such high and holy engagements, in whom, when God +looks out of Himself, He can behold nothing besides our creatureship, of +our own, but that which His soul hates! "Let us therefore have grace, +whereby we may serve God acceptably," in this so excellent an ordinance, +"with reverence and godly fear; for our God is a consuming fire." The +acceptable serving of God, is with reverence and godly fear. The Lord +teach us to bring fear, that so we may find acceptation. + +Again, _Thirdly_, to that end, labour to approve yourselves to God in +this service, in the uprightness and sincerity of your hearts. The want +of this, God lays oft to the charge of the Israelites, as in other +duties, so especially in this, which is now before us, "They lied to Him +with their tongues: for their heart was not right with Him; neither were +they stedfast in His covenant." And this stood between them and their +acceptance: God tells the prophet Ezekiel as much; "Son of man, these +men have set up their idols in their hearts, and put the stumbling-block +of their iniquity before their face; should I be inquired of at all by +them?" They come with their hearts full of their lusts; so many lusts, +so many idols; and for this God refuseth to be inquired of by them: +"should I be inquired of?" is as much as, "I will not be inquired of." +It is a denial with disdain; "should I?" Or, if they be so impudent to +inquire, He will not answer; or if He give them an answer, it shall be a +cold one; He will give them their answer at the door; better none; "I +will answer them according to the multitude of their idols," _i.e._ +according to the merit of their idolatry: they bring the matter of their +own damnation with them, and they shall carry away nothing else from Me, +but the answer or obsignation of that damnation. Oh! it is a dangerous +thing, to bring the love of any sin with us to the ordinances of God, +"If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear my prayer." +And so may we say to our own souls; if I regard iniquity, the Lord will +not accept my person, He will not regard my covenant. If God see +anything lie nearer our hearts than Himself, He will scorn us, and our +services. If, therefore, you would be accepted, "out with your idols;" +cast out the love of sin, out of your hearts; and be upright with your +God in this holy undertaking. It is the main qualification in the text, +"they shall inquire the way to Zion, with their faces thitherward," +_i.e._, in sincerity, with uprightness of spirit, with the full set and +bent of their souls: as it is said of Christ, when He went to His +passion; "He stedfastly set His face to go up to Jerusalem." He went +with all His heart to be crucified; with a strong bent of spirit. +Beloved, we are not going to "crucifying work," (unless it be to crucify +the flesh with the affections and lusts) but to marriage work; "to join +ourselves to the Lord, in an everlasting covenant." Let us do it "with +our faces Zion-ward;" yea, let us stedfastly set our faces +reformation-ward and heaven-ward, and God-ward, and Christ-ward, with +whom we enter covenant this day. A man may inquire the way to Zion, with +his face towards Babylon; a people or person may enter covenant with +God, with their hearts Rome-ward, and earth-ward, and sin-ward, and +hell-ward. Friends, look to your hearts. "Peradventure, said Jacob, my +father will feel me, and I shall seem to him as one that mocks, and I +shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing." Without all +peradventure, may we say, our Father will feel us; for He searcheth all +hearts, and understandeth the imagination of the thoughts. If we be +found as they that mock, shewing much love with our mouths, while our +hearts are far from Him, we shall bring a curse upon ourselves; yea, and +upon the kingdoms also, and not a blessing. It is reported to the honour +of Judah, in the day of their covenanting with their God; "they had +sworn with all their heart, and with their whole desire." And their +success was answerable to their sincerity; for so it follows, "And the +Lord was found of them, and gave them rest round about." Oh! that this +might be our honour and happiness in this day, of our lifting up our +hands to the most high God, that God might not see in us a double heart, +an heart and an heart, as the Hebrew expresses it, _i.e._ one heart for +God, and another for our idols; one heart for Christ, and another for +Antichrist,: but He might see us a single, upright hearted people, +without base mixtures and composition; for He loves truth, _i.e._ +sincerity, in the inward parts; that He finding such sincerity as He +looks for, we also might find such success as we look for; safety and +deliverance to both the nations; yea, that both in respect of our +sincerity and success, that might be made good upon us that is spoken to +the eternal honour of that good king Hezekiah, "And in every work that +he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the +commandments to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and +prospered." Universal sincerity is accompanied with universal +prosperity; in all he did, he was upright, and in all he did, he +prospered. Brethren, whatever you want, be sure you want not sincerity; +let God see you fully set in your hearts to take all from sin, and to +give all to Jesus Christ; me-thinks I hear God saying unto us, +"according to your uprightness, so be it unto you." + +In the _Fourth_ place, if you would be accepted by God in this holy +service, labour to make God your end. It is your pattern in the text, +"they shall go and seek the Lord;" it was not now "howling upon their +beds for corn and wine," as formerly; of which God says, "they cried not +unto Me," _i.e._, they did not make God the end of their prayers; as +elsewhere God tells them: "When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and +seventh month, even those seventy years, did ye fast to Me, even unto +Me?" In seventy years, they kept sevenscore fasts in Babylon; and yet, +amongst them all, they kept not one day unto God; for though the duty +looked upon God, they that did the duty did not look upon God; that is, +they did not set up God, as their chief end, in fasting and praying: +they mourned not so much for their sin, as for their captivity; or, if +for their sin, they mourned for it not so much as God's dishonour, as +the cause of their captivity; they were not troubled so much, that they +had by their sins walked contrary to God, as that God, by His judgments, +had "walked contrary to them." They fasted and prayed, rather to get off +their chains than to get off their sins; to get rid of the bondage of +the Babylonians, than to get rid of the servitude of their own base +lusts. But now, blessed be God, it was otherwise: "the children of +Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together" to what end? +"They shall seek the Lord," _i.e._ they shall seek God for Himself, and +not only for themselves; "going and weeping;" why? Not so much that He +hath offended them, as that they have offended Him; for their sins, more +than for their punishments; so it is more distinctly reported, "A voice +was heard upon the high places, weeping and supplications of the +children of Israel; because they have perverted their way, and have +forsaken the Lord their God." They had forgotten God before, not only in +their sins, but in their duties; "they cried not to Me; they fasted not +to Me; not at all unto Me." But now they remember the Lord their God; +they seek His face; they labour to atone Him; yea, they seek Him to be +their Lord, as well as their Saviour; to govern them, as well as to +deliver them; "they ask the way to Zion;" they require as well, and +more, how they should serve Him, as that He should save them. "The Lord +is our judge, the Lord is our law-giver, the Lord is our king, He will +save us." Beloved Christians, let us write after this copy, and in this +great business we have in hand, let us seek God, and seek Him as a +fountain of holiness, as well as a fountain of happiness. Take we heed +of those base, low, dung-hill ends, which prevailed upon the Shechemites +to enter into covenant with the God of the Hebrews, "shall not their +cattle and substance be ours?" Let the two nations, and every soul in +both the nations, that lift up the hand to the most high God, in this +holy league and covenant, take heed of, and abhor such unworthy +thoughts, if they should be crowding in upon this service, and say unto +them, as once Christ to Peter, "get thee behind me, Satan; thou +savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men." +You may remember how it fared with Hamor, and his son Shechem, and their +people, to whom they propounded these base ends. God did not only +disappoint them of their ends, but destroy them for them; their aims +were to get the Hebrews' substance and cattle; but they lost their own, +with lives to boot; "For it came to pass on the third day, when they +were sore, two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, came upon the city +boldly, and slew all the males. And the sons of Jacob came upon the +slain, and spoiled the city; they took their sheep, and their oxen, and +all their wealth." A most horrid and bloody treachery and cruelty in +them, which stands as a brand of infamy upon their foreheads to this +day; but a most just and righteous censure from God, and a caution to +all succeeding generations, of prostituting heavenly and holy ordinances +to earthly and sensual ends. Oh! let it be our "admonition, upon whom +the ends of the world are come, to the end, that we may not tempt God, +as they also tempted." For, if God so much abhorred, and so severely +punished these worldly respects in the men of the world; if God was so +angry with poor purblind heathen, who had no other light for their +guide, but the glimmering light of nature; how will His anger not only +kindle, but flame in the avenging of such baseness upon Christians, a +people of His own, who have the glorious light of the gospel of Jesus +Christ, to discover to them higher and heavenly ends and references? So +that such a kingdom, people, or person, that should dare to bring such +base carnal ends, to so spiritual and divine a contract, should be made +a monument of the wrath and vengeance of divine justice; and while they +propound to themselves safety, or riches, or greatness, from such an +excellent ordinance, God makes it by a strange but a righteous hand, an +occasion of misery and ruin to them and their posterity, to many +generations. + +Christians, labour to set up God in this day and duty, wherein you +engage yourselves so nigh unto Him; and if you would have heavenly +blessings, see that you propound and pursue heavenly ends and aims; +lest, while you come to make a covenant with God, you commit idolatry +against Him. Whatsoever we make our ultimate and highest end, we make +our God. If therefore you cannot make God your sole, your only end, yet +be sure you make Him your choicest, your chiefest end; keep God in His +own place; and let all self-respects whatsoever vail to His glory, +according to that great rule, "whether you eat or drink, or whatsoever +ye do, do all to the glory of God." + +_Fifthly_, To do this business to acceptation, we must do it cheerfully: +as God loves a cheerful giver, so He loves a cheerful hearer, a cheerful +petitioner, and a cheerful covenanter; and you have it in the text too, +"come let us;" there is their readiness and cheerfulness to the work; as +it was that for which the apostle doth commend his Macedonians in +another service. "This they did, not as we hoped, but first gave +themselves to the Lord." So these, they give themselves to God of their +own accord, "come let us." Oh! that the ministers of the Gospel might +have occasion to make the same boast of you, concerning this solemn +ordinance before you, that they might say and rejoice, that you were a +people, "that gave yourselves to the Lord," and unto the work of +reformation, not by a Parliamentary fear, or by our ministerial +compulsions; but, above our hopes, and beyond our expectations; of your +own accord. See what a wonder, not only of cheerfulness, but of joy and +triumph, is recorded of the Jews in king Asa's time, in their taking of +the covenant. "They sware unto the Lord with a loud voice, and with +shouting; and with trumpets, and with cornets. And all Judah rejoiced at +the oath; for they had sworn with all their hearts." There was indeed a +severe mulct, a capital censure enacted, against those that should +refuse, and reject this ordinance. "They should be put to death, whether +great or small, whether man or woman." A very grievous censure; but it +seems there was neither need, nor use for it; "for all Judah rejoiced at +the oath;" the people looked upon this service, not as their pressure, +but as their privilege; and therefore came to it, not with contentedness +only, but an holy triumph, and so saved the magistrate and themselves +the labour and charges of executing that sentence on delinquents. Oh! +that this may be your wisdom and honour; that whatever penalty the +honourable Parliaments of either nation, shall in their wisdom think fit +to proportion to the grievous sin of rebelling against this covenant of +the Lord; (and it seems by the instance before, that whatsoever penalty +they shall ordain less than death, will not be justice only but +moderation) I say, whatever it shall be, it may be rendered useless and +invalid by the forwardness and rejoicings of an obedient people; that +all England, as well as Scotland, would rejoice at the oath, and swear +with all their hearts. For certainly it will not be so much our duty as +our prerogative, as I have shewed you before, to enter into covenant +with God and His people. It is the day of God's power: the Lord make you +a "willing people." And, as a testimony of this willingness and joy, +imitate the people here in the text, and stir up one another, and +provoke one another to this holy service. "Let us join ourselves to the +Lord." They express their charity, as well as their joy; they would not +go to Zion alone; they call as many as they meet with them; "come let us +join ourselves to the Lord." Oh, that this might be your temper! It is +the very character of the evangelical church; as both Isaiah and Micah +have described it; their words be the same. "Many people shall go and +say, come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord." Oh! that +while neutrals and malignants do discourage one another, and set off one +another, and embitter one another's spirits; God and His ministers might +find you encouraging each other, and provoking one another, and +labouring to oil one another's spirits, to this (as other) Gospel duty +and prerogative; God could not choose, but be much pleased with such a +sight. I might have made this a distinct qualification, but for +brevity's sake, I couch it under this head. I come to the last. If you +would be accepted, bring faith with you to this service: and that in a +fourfold reference; 1. God. 2. The ordinance. 3. Ourselves. 4. Jesus +Christ. + +_First_, In reference unto God; "for he that will come to God," in any +ordinance, "must believe that God is and that He is a rewarder of them +that diligently seek Him." There is nothing God takes better at His +people's hand, than when they come with their hearts as full of good +thoughts of God as ever they can hold; such as, "Lo, this is our God, we +have waited for Him, and He will save us; we have waited for Him, we +will be glad, and rejoice in His salvation." "He will save," "we will be +glad," _i.e._, God will undoubtedly give us occasion of gladness and +triumph in His praises. Oh, sweet and blessed confidence of divine +goodness! how well doth this become the children of such a father, who +hath styled Himself the Father of mercies? Good thoughts of God do +mightily please, and even engage God to shew mercy to His people. "Let +us therefore come with boldness to the throne of grace;" even in this +ordinance also, "that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help us in +this time of our need." + +_Secondly_, Let us bring faith in reference to the duty; as we are to +believe well of God, so we are to believe well of the duty, that it is +an ordinance wherein God will be sanctified, and found of them that seek +Him. It is not enough, that we seek Him in His ordinance, but that we +believe it to be His ordinance. "Whatever is not of faith, is sin;" He +speaks not of a faith that doth justify the person; but of a faith that +doth justify the performance; that is, a thorough conviction of +conscience, that the work, whatsoever it is, is such that the word will +bear me out in it, such as God Himself doth approve. To do doubtfully, +is to do sinfully; an ignorant person cannot please God. + +_Thirdly_, Bring faith in reference to your own persons; believe that +God will accept of them in this ordinance; whatever your success shall +be in regard of the kingdom, yet you shall find acceptance in regard of +your persons: so the church. "Thou meetest him that rejoiceth, and +worketh righteousness, those that remember Thee in Thy ways." When a +people or person can say, as the church in another place, "In the way of +Thy judgments, have we waited for Thee, O Lord; the desire of our soul +is to Thy name, and to the remembrance of Thee," God will not stay till +they come unto Him, but He will meet them half-way; "thou meetest him," +like the father of the prodigal, while they are yet half-way, He will +see, and run, and meet, and fall upon their neck; and while they weep at +His feet, tears of contrition; He will weep over their necks, the tears +of compassion: Oh! stir up yourselves, and engage your faith to believe, +and expect a gracious entertainment. If God see you coming in the +integrity and uprightness of your hearts, to enter into covenant with +God, to take Him as your God, and to give up yourselves to be His +people, to take away all from sin, and to give all to Jesus Christ; He +will certainly take it well at your hands, and say unto you, "come, my +people, and welcome; I will be your God, and you shall be my people;" +which that you may not miss of, + +In the _fourth_ place, come believingly, in reference to Jesus Christ; +be sure you bring a Christ with you; for "He hath made us accepted in +the Beloved." Come without a Christ, and go without acceptance. + +The day of atonement among the Jews was called the day of expiation; and +the word _kippurim_ is derived from an Hebrew root, that signifies to +cover; and so the day of atonement was as much as to say, "the day of +covering; the covering of nakedness: and the covering of sin." "Blessed +is the man whose transgression is forgiven, and whose sin is covered." +In which very name of the day, the ground or reason is held forth, why +it was called a day of atonement, because it was a day of covering: +wherein Christ was typified, Who is the "the covering of the saints; the +long white robes of His righteousness" covering both their persons and +performances; so that the nakedness of neither doth appear in the eyes +of His Father; "He hath beheld no iniquity in Jacob, neither hath seen +perverseness in Israel." Why? Not because there was no "iniquity in +Jacob, nor perverseness in Israel," for there was hardly any thing else; +but because their iniquity and perverseness were hid from His eyes, +being covered with the mantle of His Son's righteousness, the Messiah, +which He had promised, and they so much looked for. Let us therefore in +this service, as in all, "put on the Lord Jesus." That as Jacob in the +garments of his elder brother Esau, so we in the garments of our elder +brother Jesus, may find acceptance and obtain the blessing. And thus +much be spoken concerning the first branch of this third query, how to +acceptation? + +I come now to the Second branch of it, and that is, How to perpetuity? +Or, how may we perform this service so that it may be "an everlasting +covenant, that may never be forgotten?" To that end, take these few +brief directions, and I have done. + +_First_, Labour to come to this service with much soul-affliction for +former violation of the covenant, either in refusing, or profaning, or +breaking thereof: the foundations must be laid low, where we would build +for many generations. In what deep sorrows had you need to lay the +foundations of this covenant, which you would have stand to eternity, +that it may be "an everlasting covenant." This you have in the text; +"they shall seek the Lord, going and weeping;" weeping in the sense of +their former rebellions and apostasies, whereby they forfeited their +faith, and brake their covenant with the Lord their God; and it was no +ordinary slight business they made of it. "A voice was heard upon the +high places, weeping and supplication." They were not a few silent +tears: no, they "lift up their voices and wept," as was said of Esau. +They cried so loud, that they were heard a great way off. "A voice was +heard upon the mountains;" and it was as bitter, as it was loud; "a +great mourning, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of +Megiddon," when all Judah, Jerusalem, Jeremiah the prophet, and all the +singers, bewailed the death of their good king Josiah, with a grievous +lamentation, "and made it an ordinance forever." Oh! that as we have +their service in hand, so we had their heads and their hearts, to manage +it with rivers of tears, for our former vileness: that we could weep +this day together, and afterward apart, as it is prophesied, "Every +family apart, and our wives apart;" yea, and every soul apart, that we +have dealt so evilly with so good a God, so unfaithfully with so +faithful a God; that we could put our mouths in the dust, and smite upon +our thigh, and be ashamed and confounded, for all the wickedness we have +committed against God and His covenant, in any, or all these ways. Such +a posture God will see us in, before He will shew us "the way to Zion;" +before He will reveal to us the model and platform of reformation; for +so was His charge to Ezekiel, "If they be ashamed of all that they have +done, shew them the forms of the house, and the fashion thereof, and the +goings out thereof, and the comings in thereof, and all the forms +thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and all the forms thereof, and +all the laws thereof, and write it in their sight." Surely, this +blessed prophecy hath an eye upon our times, for this is one of those +days, as I told you before, wherein God will make good these gracious +words unto His people; and God hath called together His Ezekiels, His +ministers, to "shew the house," _i.e._, the form and pattern of the +evangelical house or church, unto the house of England and Scotland. +"Shew the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed." That +is, shew them the outside thereof, shew them "that there is such a +house," which they never yet beheld with their eyes, that they may be +humbled and ashamed of their former idolatries. And thus do our Ezekiels +tell us, there is a way of gospel government, of such beauty and +excellency, as our eyes never yet beheld, nor the eyes of our +forefathers; to the end, that we may be ashamed of all our former +idolatries and superstitions, our monstrous mixtures of popery and +will-worship in the ordinances of Christ; and that we have not sooner +inquired after the mind of Christ, how He will be worshipped in His +house; but now, unless we be ashamed, _i.e._, deeply and thoroughly +humbled, for all that we have done unworthy of Christ and His worship, +and the covenant of our God, we shall never see the inside, that is, the +laws and the ordinances, and the forms of this house, which are both +various and curious; for so the variety and repetition of the words +imply. The prophets are not to reveal these unto us, unless we be +ashamed; God will either withdraw them from us, or, which is worse, +withdraw Himself from them; so that our eyes shall never behold the Lord +in the beauty of holiness; we shall not be admitted to see the beauty +and glory of such a reformation, as our souls long for. And as God will +see us in this posture, before He reveal to us the model and platform of +reformation; so also, till we be in such a posture of deep humiliation, +for our former abominations, we shall never be stedfast and faithful in +the covenant of God. Till our hearts be throughly broken for +covenant-breach, we will not pass much for breaking covenant, upon every +fresh temptation. Yea, till that time we be humbled, not for a day only, +and so forth: but unless we labour to maintain an habitual frame of +godly sorrow upon our hearts for our covenant-violations, shall we ever +be to purpose conscientious of our covenant? A sad remembrance of old +sins is a special means to prevent new. When every solemn remembrance of +former vileness, can fetch tears from our eyes, and blood from our +hearts, and fill our faces with an holy shame, the soul will be holily +shy of the like abominations, and of all occasions and tendencies +thereunto: "Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and +the gall. My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled within +me." When old sins cost dear, new sins will not find an easy +entertainment. When old sins are new afflictions, when the remembrance +of them is as wormwood and gall, the soul will not easily be bewitched +to drink a new draught of that poisoned cup any more. Christian, believe +me, or thou mayest find it by experience too true, when thou hast forgot +old sins, or canst remember them without new affliction of soul, thou +art near a fall; look to thyself, and cry to God for preventing grace. +There will be great hopes we shall be faithful in our new covenant, when +we come with a godly sense and sorrow for our abuse of old, and labour +to maintain it upon our spirits. + +_Secondly_, If you would have this covenant to be a perpetual covenant, +labour to see old scores crossed; do not only mourn for thy +covenant-unfaithfulness; but labour to get thy pardon written and sealed +to thee in the blood of the covenant. There is virtue enough in the +blood of the covenant, to expiate the guilt of thy sins against the +covenant. "I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean; +from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you." +Their sins of idolatry, were sins especially against their covenant; +idolatry being the violation of the marriage-knot, between God and a +people; yet even from them doth God promise to cleanse them, upon their +repentance and conversion. The blood of the covenant, compared to water +for the cleansing virtue thereof, should cleanse them from their +covenant defilements. "The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all +sin." "Thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet, return again +to me, saith the Lord." It is a mighty encouragement to renew our +covenants with God, that He is so ready to pardon the breach of old; and +the sense of this pardon is a mighty engagement and strengthening, to +keep our new covenants. Oh! for God to say to a poor soul, "be of good +cheer, thy sins be forgiven thee." "And I have blotted out thy sins as a +cloud, and thy transgressions as a thick cloud." All thy unkindnesses +and unfaithfulnesses, thy treacherous dealings against the covenant, +shall be forgotten; they shall do thee no harm. This will mightily +strengthen the hands, and fortify the heart, and even make it +impenetrable and impregnable against all the solicitations and +importunities of old temptations: see a notable instance of this, "I +will heal their backslidings, I will love them freely; for mine anger is +turned away from him." "I will be as the dew to Israel." "His branches +shall spread." "They that dwell under His shadow shall return." What +follows these gracious promises? Why, Ephraim shall say, "What have I to +do any more with idols?" He that before was so inseparably joined to +idols, that he could not be divorced from them; "Ephraim is joined to +idols." All the blows that God gave him, tho' God should have beaten him +to pieces, as he himself afterward confessed, could not beat him off +from his idols; insomuch, that God at length gave him over, as an +hopeless child. "Ephraim is joined to idols, let him lone." Yet, no +sooner doth this Ephraim hear of a pardon, and of the love of God to +him, but the bonds between him and his idols are dissolved, and away he +thrusts them with indignation. Ephraim shall say, "What have I to do +with idols?" Or as the prophet Isaiah expresseth it, "Ye shall defile +the covering of the graven images of silver, and the ornament of thy +molten images of gold; thou shalt cast them away as a menstruous cloth, +thou shalt say unto it, get thee hence." And thus it is with a people, +or a person, when once "God sheds abroad His Spirit in their hearts," +and makes them "hear joy and gladness," in speaking, or sealing, a +pardon upon their souls; they that before were joined to their idols, +drunkenness, uncleanness, covetousness, pride, ways of false worship, +old superstitious customs, and ceremonies, and the like; so that there +was no parting of them; or those who had long been grappling and +conflicting with their strong corruptions and old temptations, and in +those conflicts had received many a foil, and got many a fall to the +wounding of their consciences, and cutting deep gashes upon their souls; +now they stand up with a kind of omnipotence among them, no temptation +is able to stand before them; they say to their idols, whether sinful +company, or sinful customs, "get ye hence, and what have I to do any +more with idols?" What have I to do with such and such base company? +What have I to do with such base filthy lusts? "I am my beloved's, and +my beloved is mine." Christ is mine, and I am His. The reason of it is, +because pardon begets love; "she loved much, because much was forgiven +her." And love begets strength: "for love is as strong as death": yea, +stronger than sin or death; "They loved not their lives to the death," +and "I count not my life dear," says Paul, when once the man had tasted +of the free grace of God in the pardon of his sins, "who before was a +blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious." He could find in his +heart, not only to lay down a lust, but to lay down his life too for +Jesus Christ: "for whose sake, (saith he), I have suffered the loss of +all things; and I count not my life dear, so that I might finish my +course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord +Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God." + +My beloved Christians, if you would be faithful in the covenant of God, +into which you are now entering, sue out your pardon for what is past; +yea, entreat the Lord, not only to give a pardon, but to speak a pardon, +and seal a pardon upon your hearts; and never give the Lord rest, till +the Lord have given rest to your souls. "The joy of the Lord is your +strength." + +_Thirdly_, If you would make an unchangeable covenant, with an +unchangeable God, come furnished with and maintain upon your hearts, an +abundant measure of self-distrust; labour to be thoroughly convinced of +your own nothingness and disability. "By his own strength shall no man +prevail." Surely, thine own treachery may inform thee, and thine own +backslidings may convince thee, to confess with Jeremiah, "O Lord, I +know (I know it by sad experience) the way of man is not in himself: It +is not in man that walketh to direct his steps." Staupitius confessed to +Luther, that he thought in his very conscience he had above a thousand +times renewed his covenant with God, and as many times broken it: a sad +confession, and yet how many among us may take up the like lamentation! +Be convinced of it, I beseech you, and maintain the sense of this +conviction upon your spirits. Say oft within yourself, I am nothing, +worse than nothing. This treacherous heart of mine will betray me into +the breach of my covenant, if the Lord leave me to myself, I shall one +day fall by the hand of my corruptions. He that walks tremblingly, walks +safely. + +In the _Fourth_ place, be often renewing your resolutions. It was the +exhortation of that good man to the new converts at Antioch, where they +were first called Christians, "that they should cleave unto the Lord +with full purpose of heart." This covenant, I have shewed you, is the +ordinance whereby you cleave unto the Lord, the joining ordinance. Oh! +do it with full purpose of heart, and be often putting on fresh and +frequent resolutions, not to suffer every base temptation of Satan, +every deceitful, or malignant solicitation of the world, every foolish +and carnal suggestion of the flesh, to bribe and seduce you from that +fidelity which you swear this day to Jesus Christ and the kingdoms. A +well grounded resolution is half the work, and the better half too; for +he that hath well resolved, hath conquered his will; and he that hath +conquered his will, hath overcome the greatest difficulty: no such +difficulty in spiritual things, as to prevail with one's own heart. With +these cords, therefore, of well bottomed resolutions, be oft binding +yourselves to your covenant, as once Ulysses did himself to his mast, +that you may not be bewitched by any Syrenian song of the flesh, world, +or the devil, to violate your holy covenant, and drown yourselves in a +sea of perdition. And to that end, it would not be altogether useless, +to fix your covenant in some place of your houses, or bed-chamber, where +it may be oftenest in your eyes, to admonish you of your religious and +solemn engagements, under which you have brought your own souls. The +Jews had their "phylacteries, or borders upon their garments," which +they did wear also upon their heads, and upon their arms; which, tho' +they abused afterward, not only to pride, making them broader than their +first size or pattern, in ostentation and boasting of their holiness, +our Saviour condemns in the scribes and pharisees. And to superstition, +for they used them as superstitious helps in prayer, which they coloured +under a false derivation of the word in the Hebrew, yet God indulged +them in this ceremony, as an help for their memories, to put them in +remembrance to keep the law of the Lord. And God Himself seems to use +this art of memory, as it were, when, comforting His people, He tells +them, "behold I have graven thee upon the palms of My hands, thy walls +are continually before Me." + +I must confess, the nature of man is very prone to abuse and pervert +such natural helps to idolatry and superstition. This instance of the +Jews, wretchedly improving their phylacteries to superstitious purposes, +their idolizing of the brazen serpent; and thereby of a cure, turning it +into a plague, a snare, with the like, are sufficient testimonies. And +we see how the papists have abused and adulterated the lawful use of +natural mediums, to the unlawful use of artificial mediums of their own +inventions; images and crucifixes, first to help their memories, and +stir up their devotions in their prayers, and then to pray unto them, as +mediums of divine worship. The more cautious had Christians need be in +the use of those mediums, which either God hath ordained by special +command for the help of our memories, and stirring up of our graces, as +the visible elements in the sacraments; or such natural advantages, +which moral equity allows us for the help of our understandings and +memories in spiritual concernments; such is this, we are now speaking +of; it being the same with the use of books and tables. Tertullian tells +us of a superstitious custom among the ancient Christians, that they +were wont to set up images over their doors and chimneys, to keep +witches when they came into their houses from bewitching their children; +and so by a little kind of witchcraft, prevented witchcraft. But surely, +to set up this covenant, where we might often see and read what +engagements we have laid upon our souls, (and I could heartily wish +Christians would do it at least once a week) it will be an innocent and +warrantable spell, to render the witchery of the flesh, world, and +devil, fruitless and ineffectual upon our spirits, while the soul may +say with David, "Thy vows are upon me, O God: I will render praise unto +Thee." + +But _Fifthly_, consider often and seriously, who it is that must uphold +your resolutions; even He that upholds heaven and earth: no less power +will do it; "for you are kept by the power of God through faith unto +salvation." It is God that first gives the resolution, and then must +uphold, and bring it into act; "It is God that worketh in you, both to +will and to do of His good pleasure," and therefore labour, I beseech +you, to do these two things. + +_First_, Put all your resolutions into the hands of prayer: David was a +man of an excellent spirit, full of holy resolves. "I will walk in mine +integrity," "And I will keep Thy testimonies." And again, "I have sworn, +and I will perform it, that I will keep Thy righteous judgments." And +yet again, "do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate Thee?" "I hate them +with a perfect hatred." A thousand such sweet resolutions doth that +precious servant of God breathe out all along the Psalms; and yet so +jealous the holy man is of himself, that he never trusts himself with +his own resolutions; and therefore shall you find him always clapping a +petition upon a resolution, as in the quoted places. "I will walk in +mine integrity. Redeem me, and be merciful unto me. I will keep Thy +testimonies, oh! forsake me not utterly." Though Thou hast let me fall +fearfully, suffer me not to fall finally. And so when he had said, "I +have sworn, and will not repent," he presently adds (within a word or +two), "quicken me, O Lord, according to Thy word." And again, "accept, I +beseech Thee, the free-will offerings of my mouth, O Lord, and teach me +Thy judgments." God must teach him, as to make, so to make good the +free-will offerings of his mouth, _i.e._, his promises and vows. And so, +when he had made that appeal to God, "do not I hate them that hate Thee, +Lord?" he presently betakes himself to his prayers, "search me, O God, +and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts. And see if there be any +wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Mark, I pray, +"search me, try me, know my heart, know my thoughts, see whether there +be any wicked way, lead me." He will neither trust himself for what he +is, nor for what he shall be; "try me," he dares not trust his own +trial: "lead me," he dares not trust his own resolutions: such a sweet +holy jealousy of himself doth he breathe forth, with all his heavenly +purposes and resolutions. Oh! all you that would make an everlasting +covenant with God, imitate holy David, upon every holy resolution, clap +an earnest petition, say, I will reform my life; oh! redeem me, and be +merciful unto me. I will set up Christ in my heart, I will labour to +walk worthy of Him in my life: oh! forsake me not utterly, Lord; leave +me not to myself, I have sworn, and am utterly purposed in all my duties +I owe to God and man, to amend my life, and to go before others in the +example of a real reformation. O Lord, teach me Thy judgments: quicken +me, O Lord, according to Thy word. Thy vows are upon me, that I will, +according to my place and calling, endeavour to preserve reformation in +Scotland, to procure reformation in England; that I will in like manner +endeavour the extirpation of popery and prelacy; to preserve the rights +and liberties of parliaments; discover incendiaries; endeavour the +preservation of peace between the two kingdoms; defend all those that +enter into this league and covenant, that I will never make defection to +the contrary part, or to give myself to a detestable indifferency or +neutrality. And this covenant I have made in the presence of Almighty +God, the searcher of all hearts, with a true intention to perform the +same, as I shall answer at that great day. But now, add with David, +"Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts, and +see if there be any way of wickedness in me, and lead me in the way +everlasting." In a word, put your covenant into frequently renewed +resolutions: resolutions into prayer, and prayer, and all into the hands +of God. It is God that must gird thee with strength, to perform all thy +vows. This, the close of this blessed covenant, into which we enter this +day, doth teach us. "Humbly beseeching the Lord to strengthen us by His +Spirit; for this end, and to bless our desires and proceedings." And the +covenant in the text, was surely inlaid with prayer, while they engage +themselves to seek the Lord, not only to shew them the way to Zion, but +to give them strength to walk in that way. + +Let it be your wisdom and piety, my brethren, to imitate both; oh pray, +and be much in prayer, and be often in prayer: pray daily over the +covenant; as you this day lift up your hands to swear to the most high +God in this covenant, so lift up your hands every day to pray to that +God for grace to keep this covenant. Let sense of self-insufficiency +keep open the sluice of prayer, that that may let fresh streams of +strength every day into your souls, to make good your vows; when you be +careless to pray over the covenant, you will be careless to keep the +covenant; when you cease to pray, you will cease to pay. If you will be +watchful in praying over your vows, prayer will make you watchful in +paying your vows. If you will be faithful in crying to God, God will be +faithful in hearing and helping. Pray therefore, pray over every good +purpose and resolution of heart towards the covenant of God which +conscience shall suggest, or the Spirit of God shall breathe into your +bosoms, at this present or any time hereafter; as David once prayed over +that good frame of spirit, which he observed in his people; what time +they offered so willingly and liberally to the preparing for the house +of God; "O Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Jacob, our fathers, keep +this for ever, in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart, and +prepare their heart unto Thee." To every command, God is pleased to add +a promise; so that what is a command in one place, is a promise in +another. "Circumcise the foreskin of your heart." But it is a promise, +"The Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy +seed to love the Lord." Again, "make you a new heart." So saith the word +of command: "a new heart will I give you:" so speaks the word of +promise. Once more, "little children abide in Him," that is the command. +Which in the immediate verse before is a gracious promise, "you shall +abide in Him." Divers more such instances I could give you; and why +thus? Surely, the command teacheth us our duty, the promise our weakness +and insufficiency to perform that duty. The command finds us work; the +promise finds us strength: the command is to keep us from being idle; +the promise to keep us from being discouraged. Well, let us imitate God, +and, as He couples a command and a promise, so let us couple a +resolution and a petition. As God seconds and backs His command with His +promise, so let us second and back our promises with our prayers; the +one in sense of our duty, the other in sense of our weakness; by the +one, to bring our hearts up to God: by the other, to bring God down to +our hearts: resolve and petition, promise and pray, and the Lord +"prepare your heart to pray, and cause His ear to hear." + +_Secondly_, Since God only must uphold your desires, walk continually as +in His presence; stability is only to be found in the presence of God; +so far we live an unchangeable life, as we walk and live in the presence +of an unchangeable God. The saints in Heaven know no vicissitudes, or +changes in their holy frame and temper of spirit, because they are +perfected in the beholding of His face; "with whom is no variableness, +nor shadow of changing:" and so far as the saints on earth can keep God +in their presence so far the presence of God will keep them. "I have set +the Lord always before me; and because He is at my right hand, therefore +I shall not be moved," sang David of himself literally, and in the +person of Christ typically: the privilege was made good to both, so far +as either made good the duty. David, according to his degree, and +proportion of grace, set God before him, placed Him on his right hand; +and so long as he could keep God's presence, the presence of God kept +him; it kept him from sin, "I have kept myself from mine iniquity." How +so? Why, "I was upright before Him," in the former part of the same +verse. So long as he walked before God, in God's presence; so long he +walked upright, and kept himself from his iniquity; or rather God's +presence kept him: and, as it kept him from sin, so it kept him from +fear also; "tho' I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I +will not fear." Mark what he saith, though he walk, not step; and walk +through, not step across; and through, not a dark entry, or a churchyard +in the night-time, but a valley, a large, long, vast place; how many +miles long I know not; and this not a valley of darkness only, but of +death, where he should see nothing but visions of death, and not bare +death, but the shadow of death: the shadow is the dark part of the +thing; so that the shadow of death, is the darkest side of death; death +in its most hideous and horrid representations; and yet behold, when he +comes out at the farther end, and a man would have thought to have found +him all in a cold sweat, his hair standing upright, his eyes set in his +head, and the man beside himself. Behold, I say, he doth not so much as +change colour, his hand shakes not, his heart fails not; as he went in, +he comes out; and though he should go back again the same way, he tells +you, "I will not fear." How comes this to pass? How comes the man to be +so undaunted? Why, he will tell you in the very same verse, speaking to +God, "For Thou art with me." God's presence kept him from fear, in the +midst of death and horror. Thus it was, I say, with David, while he +could keep God in his presence, he was immoveable, impregnable; you +might as soon have stirred a rock, as stirred him, "I shall not be +moved." Indeed, so long as he was upon the rock, he was as immoveable as +the rock itself; but alas! sometime he lost the sight of his God, and +then he was like other men; "Thou didst hide Thy face from me, and I was +troubled." When God hid His face from him, or he hid his eyes from God; +then how easily is he moved? Fear breaks in, "I shall one day fall by +the hand of Saul." Sin breaks in, yea, one sin upon the heels of +another; the adulterous act, upon the adulterous look, and murder upon +adultery, as you know in that sad business of Uriah the Hittite; once +off from his Rock, and he is as weak as dust, not able to stand before +the least temptation of sin or fear; and therefore as soon as he comes +to himself again, he cries, "Oh! lead me to the Rock that is higher than +I;" to my Rock, Lord, to my Rock. But now, the Lord Jesus, the antitype +of David here in this Psalm, because he made good this, (duty shall I +call it?) "For in Him dwelt the fulness of the God-head bodily." To Him +therefore was this privilege made good perfectly in the highest degree; +for tho' He had temptations that never man had, and was to do that which +never man did; and to suffer that which never man suffered; the +contradiction of sinners; the rage of hell; and the wrath of God: yet, +because He set the Lord always at His right hand; yea, indeed was always +at the right hand of God; therefore He was not moved, but overcame even +by suffering. + +Beloved, you see where stability in covenant is to be had; even in the +presence of God. Labour, I beseech you, to walk in His presence, and to +set Him always at your right hand; behold, it shall keep you, so that +you shall not be moved; or, if you be moved, you shall not be removed; +if you stumble you shall not fall; or, if you fall, you shall not fall +away; you shall rise again. There is a double advantage in it. _First_, +It will keep your hearts in awe; he that sets God in his presence, dares +not sin in His presence: "God sees," will make the heart say, "How shall +I do this great evil, and sin against God?" _Secondly_, There is joy in +it; "In Thy presence is fulness of joy." It is true, in its proportion +of grace, as well as of glory; and joy will strengthen and stablish, as +I shewed you before, "The joy of the Lord is your strength." As long as +the child is in its father's eye, and the father in its eye, it is +secure. "Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the +Most High, thy habitation; there shall no evil befall thee." It will +hold as well in the evils of sin, as in the evils of punishment: well, +the Lord make you know these precious truths in an experimental manner. +I have held you too long; but the business requires it. Remember, I +beseech you, it is God that must uphold your desires and resolutions; +and therefore, 1. Be much in prayer. And, 2. Set yourselves in the +presence of God. He lives unchangeably that lives in the unchangeable +God. + +In the _Sixth_, and last place, if thou wouldst make an everlasting +covenant with God, that shall never be forgotten, look up to Jesus +Christ, go to Jesus Christ. He must help, and He must strengthen, and He +must keep thee, or else thou wilt never be able to "keep thy covenant;" +hear Him, else, "without me ye can do nothing." And as Christ speaks +thus in the negative; so you may hear the apostle speaking by blessed +experience in the affirmative; "I can do all things through Jesus +Christ, Who strengtheneth me." Observe, I pray, "Without Me ye can do +nothing. Through Christ I can do all things." Nothing, all things. There +is a good deal of difference between two men; take one without Christ, +and, be his parts never so excellent, his resolutions never so strong, +his engagements never so sacred, "he can do nothing;" unless it be to +"break his covenant and vows," as Samson brake his cords like threads +scorched with the fire; and, take the other with a Christ standing by +him, and be he in himself never so weak and mean, unlearned and +ungifted, lo, as if he were clothed with omnipotency, "he can do all +things," he can subdue such corruptions, conquer such temptations, +perform such duties, and in such a manner, do such things, suffer such +things, (and in all these keep his covenant with God) as to other men, +and to himself before, were so many impossibilities; he could not +before, now He can. Nothing before, all things now. All things fit for +an unglorified saint to do; all things God expects from him; all things +in a gospel sense; all things comparatively to other men, and to +himself, when he was another man. See, I beseech you, how without a +Christ, and thro' a Christ, makes one man differ from another; yea, and +from himself, as much as can and cannot; all things and nothing; +impotency and omnipotency, "Without me ye can do nothing." "Through +Christ I can do all things." If therefore you would make a covenant with +Eternity to eternity, study Christ more than ever, labour to "know +nothing but Jesus Christ, and Him crucified." And therein these two +things, + +_First_, Labour to get interest in Christ. Interest is the ground of +influence; union the fountain or spring of communion; so Christ, "as the +branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more +can ye, except ye abide in Me." There you have the truth and the simile +of it; no fruit from Christ, without being and abiding in Christ; there +is truth: illustrated and proved by the vine and the branch; there the +simile, which is prosecuted and enlarged by our Saviour. + +And, as all communion ariseth from union, so look what the union is, +such is the communion; Christ was filled with the fulness of God because +united to God; the saints receive of the fulness of Christ, because +united to Christ. "I in them, and Thou in Me." Only here is the +difference. Christ's union with His Father was personal, infinite, and +substantial, and therefore the communications were answerable, "For God +gave not the Spirit by measure unto Him." But the saints' union with +Christ, being of an inferior nature; their communications also are +proportional; yet such as serve poor creatures to all blessed saving +purposes. And therefore with Paul, labour to "be found in Christ," that +so you may know experimentally the power of His resurrection, and the +fellowship of His sufferings. All the power and virtue that are in Jesus +Christ, are only for them that are in Him, as the branch in the root, as +the members in the body. + +Christ is called the covenant of God. "I will give thee for a covenant +of the people." As Calvin well expounds it, _sponsor foederis_, the +surety or undertaker of the covenant, of that second new covenant, +between God and His people, not the Jews only, but the Gentiles also. A +surety on both sides: the surety of God's covenant to them; "For all the +promises of God are in Him, yea, and in Him, Amen." He sees them all +made good to the heirs of promise. And Christ again is the surety of +their covenant unto God; for He undertakes to make good all their +covenants, and vows, and promises unto God. "Those that Thou gavest Me, +I have kept," saith Christ. "And I live (saith Paul), yet not I, but +Christ liveth in me." So that it is Christ who makes the covenant good +on both sides, as God's to His people, so His people's to God; and so it +follows in that place of Isaiah, "I have given thee for a covenant to +the people, to establish the earth;" establishment must come from +Christ, the undertaker, the surety of the covenant; as He paid the debt +for the time past, so He must see the articles of the covenant kept for +the time to come. For want of such an undertaker or surety, the first +covenant miscarried: It was between God and the creature, without a +mediator; and so the creature changing, the covenant was dissolved; but +the second, God meant should not miscarry, and therefore puts it into +sure hands; "I have laid help upon One that is mighty," speaking of +Christ, and "I will give Thee for a covenant to the people." God hath +furnished Christ wherewithal to be a surety; to make good His covenant +to His people, and their covenant to Him. + +But now, He hath this stock of all-sufficiency for none but these that +are His members, He actually undertakes for none but those that are +actually in Him; "These that Thou hast given Me I have kept." He keeps +none but them whom the Father hath given Him; given Him so as to be in +them, and they in Him. "I in them, they in Me." Well, if thou wouldst be +unchangeable in thy covenant, get interest in Christ who is the +covenant; the unchangeable covenant; "The Amen, the faithful and true +witness." "Yesterday and to-day, and the same for ever." Get interest, +"count all things loss and dung, that thou mayst win Christ, and be +found in Christ." Yea, do not only labour to get interest, but prove thy +interest. Take not up a matter of so infinite concernment upon trust: +all that thou dost covenant to God, and that God doth covenant to thee, +depends upon it; and therefore, "work it out with fear and trembling, +and give all diligence to make it sure unto thy soul." Study evidences, +and be content with none but such as will bear weight in the "balance of +the sanctuary;" such as the word will secure; such as to which the word +will bear witness, that they are inconsistent with any Christless man or +woman, whatsoever; and pray with unwearying supplications that God will +not only give thee interest, but clear thy interest, and seal up +interest upon thy soul and thee, to the day of redemption. + +_Second_, study influence when in Christ, then hast thou right to draw +virtue from Christ, for behold, all the fulness that dwells in Christ is +thine; all that life, and strength, and grace, and redemption, that is +held forth in the promise, it is all laid up in Christ, as in a +magazine; and by virtue of thy interest in, and union with the Lord +Jesus, it is all become thine. Hence you hear the believing soul making +her boast of Christ, as before, for righteousness so also for strength. +"In the Lord have I righteousness and strength." As righteousness for +acceptance, so strength also for performance of such duties, as God in +His covenant doth require and expect at the believer's hands: I have no +strength of mine own, but in Christ I have enough; "In the Lord I have +righteousness and strength." Christ is the lord-keeper, or lord high +steward, or lord treasurer; to receive in and lay out, for and to all +that are in covenant with the Father. And this is one main branch of +God's covenant with the Redeemer, that He gives out to the heirs of +promise, wherewithal to "keep their covenant with God;" so that they +never depart from Him. "As for Me, this is My covenant with them, saith +the Lord, My Spirit that is upon thee, and My words which I have put in +thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of +thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the Lord, from +henceforth and for ever." These be the words of God the father to the +Redeemer, concerning all His spiritual seed; "the Redeemer shall come to +Zion." And that Spirit, and these words of life and grace which were +upon the Redeemer, must be propagated to all His believing seed; by +virtue whereof, their covenant with God, shall in its proportion be like +God's covenant with them (for indeed the one is but the counterpart of +the other) unchangeable, everlasting. "I will make an everlasting +covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them to do them good; +but I will put My fear in their hearts, and they shall not depart away +from Me." + +Now therefore, my brethren, since there is enough in Christ, study how +to draw it out: indeed it will require a great deal of holy skill to do +it; it requires wisdom to draw out the excellencies of a man: "Counsel +in the heart of a man is deep, but a man of understanding will draw it +out." It is a fine art to be able to pierce a man, that is like a vessel +full of wine, and set him a running; but to draw out influence and +virtue from the Lord Jesus is one of the most secret hidden mysteries in +the life of a Christian: indeed we may complain, "the well is deep, and +we have nothing to draw withal." But labour to get your bucket of faith, +that you may be able to "draw water out of this well of salvation." +Labour by vital acts of a powerful faith; set to work in meditation and +prayer, to draw virtue and influence from Jesus Christ; the mouth of +prayer, and the breathings of faith from an heart soakt and steept in +holy meditations, applied to Jesus Christ, will certainly (tho' perhaps +insensibly) draw virtue from Him. Behold, faith drew virtue from Christ +by a touch of His garments: shall it not much more draw out that rich +and precious influence, by applying of Him in the promises, and in His +offices unto our souls? Consider, O Christian, whoever thou art, even +thou that art in Christ, consider, God hath not trusted thee with grace +enough before hand, for one month, no, not for a week, a day; nay, thou +hast not grace enough before hand for the performance of the next duty, +or the conquering of the next temptation; nor for the expediting thyself +out of the next difficulty; and why so? But that thou mayest learn to +live by continual dependence upon Jesus Christ, as Paul did, "The life +that I now live in the flesh, I live it by the faith of the Son of God." +Paul lived by fresh influence drawn from Christ by faith, every day and +hour; study that life, it is very mysterious, but exceeding precious. +Had we our stock before hand, we should quickly spend all, and prove +bankrupts: God hath laid up all our treasure of "wisdom, righteousness, +sanctification, and redemption in Jesus Christ," and will have us live +from hand to mouth, that so we might be safe, and God's free grace be +exalted: "It is of faith, that it might be by grace, to the end your +promise might be sure to all the seed." Wherefore, holy brethren, +partakers of this heavenly calling, look up to Jesus Christ, who is the +covenant of His Father, and your covenant; lo, He calls you. "Look unto +Me, and be ye saved all the ends of the earth." Surely they are worthy +to perish, who will not bestow a look upon salvation: oh, look humbly, +and look believingly, and look continually; look for interest, look for +influence, look for righteousness, look for strength; and let Jesus +Christ be all in all to thy soul: thou wilt never be any thing, nor do +any thing in Christianity, till thou comest to live in and upon Jesus +Christ, and Him only: humbly entreat the Lord, and give Him no rest, +that He will make a covenant with thee in Christ, which shall keep thee, +and then thou wilt be able to keep thy covenant: look up to Christ for +covenant grace, to keep covenant-engagement, and so shalt thou do this +service in a gospel sense, to acceptation, to perpetuity. + +I have now done with these three queries; What? Why? How? How to (1) +Acceptation? and (2) Perpetuity? I know much more might be added, but +the work to which we are to address ourselves, will take up much time; +the Lord set home what hath been spoken. + +Only give me leave to tell you thus much in a word, for the close of +all; as this covenant prospers with us, so we are like to prosper under +it; the welfare of the kingdom and of thy soul, is bound up now in this +covenant: for I remember what God speaks of the kingdom of Israel, +brought into covenant now with the king of Babylon, to serve him, and to +be his vassals; that "by keeping covenant it should stand." And the +breaking of that covenant was the breaking of Zedekiah and his whole +family and kingdom. Now was covenant-breach, or fidelity the foundation +of stability or ruin to that kingdom, which was struck, but with a dying +man; how much more is the rise and fall of this kingdom; yea, of these +two kingdoms, bound up in the observation or forfeiture of this +covenant, which we make this day with the living God? You that wish well +to the kingdoms, that would not see the downfall and ruin thereof; be +from henceforth more conscientious of your covenant, than ever +heretofore; for surely, upon the success of this covenant we stand or +fall; as we deal with the covenant, God will deal with us; if we slight +the covenant, God will slight us; if we have mean thoughts of the +covenant, God will have mean thoughts of us; if we forget the covenant, +God will forget us; if we break the covenant, we may look that God shall +break these two nations, and break us all to pieces; if we reject it, +God will reject us; if we regard our covenant, God will regard His +covenant, and regard us too; if we remember the covenant, God will +remember His, and remember us; if we keep the covenant, the covenant +will keep us, and our posterity for ever. + +There are a people of whom I hear God speaking gracious words. "Surely +they are My people, children that will not lie." My people, Mine by +covenant; I have brought them into the bond of the covenant; I have made +My covenant with them, and they have made their covenant with Me: and +they be children that will not lie; I know they will deal no more as a +lying and treacherous generation with Me, but will be a faithful people +in their covenant; and I will be a faithful God unto them; "I will be +their Saviour, they will serve Me, and I will save them." + +Now the Lord make us such a people unto Him, children that will not lie, +and He be such a God to us; He be our Saviour, a Saviour to both +kingdoms, and every soul that makes this covenant; to save us from sin, +and to save us from destruction; to save us from our enemies without, +and to save us from our enemies within; to save us from the devil, and +to save us from the world, and to save us from ourselves; to save us +from the lusts of men, and to save us from our own lusts; to save us, +and to save our posterity: to save us from Rome, and save us from hell; +to save us from wrath present, and from wrath to come; to save us here, +and to save us hereafter; to save us to Himself in grace, and to save us +with Himself in glory, to all eternity, for Christ's sake, Amen, and +Amen. + + + + +THE SOLEMN LEAGUE AND COVENANT: + +AN ORDINANCE OF THE LORDS AND COMMONS, + +_Issued February 2, 1644._ + + +Whereas a covenant for the preservation and reformation of religion, the +maintenance and defence of laws and liberties, hath been thought a fit +and excellent means to acquire the favour of Almighty God towards the +three kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland; and likewise to unite +them, and by uniting, to strengthen and fortify them against the common +enemy of the true reformed religion, peace and prosperity of these +kingdoms: and whereas both houses of parliament in England, the cities +of London and Westminster, and the kingdom of Scotland, have already +taken the same; it is now ordered and ordained by the Lords and Commons +in Parliament, that the same covenant be solemnly taken in all places +throughout the kingdom of England, and dominion of Wales. And for the +better and more orderly taking thereof, these directions ensuing are +appointed and enjoined strictly to be followed. + + +_Instructions for the taking of the Solemn League and Covenant +throughout the Kingdom._ + +1. That the speakers of both Houses of Parliament do speedily send, to +the lord general, and all other commanders in chief, and governors of +towns, forts, castles, and garrisons; as also to the earl of Warwick, +lord high admiral of England, true copies of the said Solemn League and +Covenant, to the end it may be taken by all officers and soldiers under +their several commands. + +2. That all the knights and burgesses now in parliament, do take special +care, speedily to send down into their several counties (which are, or +shall hereafter be under the power of the parliament) a competent number +of true copies of the said league and covenant, unto the committees of +parliament in their several counties; and that the said committees do +within six days at the most disperse the said copies to every +parish-church or chapel in their several counties, to be delivered unto +the ministers, church-wardens, or constables of the several parishes. + +3. That the said committees be required to return a certificate of the +day when they received the said copies, as also the day they sent them +forth, and to what parishes they have sent them; which certificate they +are to return to the clerk of the parliament, appointed for the commons' +house, that so an account may be given of it, as there shall be +occasion. + +4. That the several ministers be required to read the said covenant +publicly unto their people, the next Lord's day after they receive it, +and prepare their people for it, against the time that they shall be +called to take it. + +5. That the said league and covenant be taken by the committees of +parliament, in the place where they reside, and tendered also to the +inhabitants of the town, within seven days after it comes to the said +committee's hands. + +6. That the said committees after they have taken it themselves, do +speedily disperse themselves through the said counties, so as three or +four of them be together, on days appointed, at the chief places of +meeting, for the several divisions of the said counties: and summon all +the ministers, church-wardens, constables, and other officers unto that +place, where, after a sermon preached by one appointed by the committee +for that purpose, they cause the same minister to tender the league and +covenant unto all such ministers, and other officers, to be taken and +subscribed by them, in the presence of the said committees. + +7. That the said committees do withal give the said ministers in charge, +to tender it unto all the rest of their parishioners the next Lord's +day, making then unto their said parishioners some solemn exhortation, +concerning the taking and observing thereof: and that the said +committees do also return to the several parishes, the names of all such +as have taken the covenant before them, who yet shall also subscribe +their names in the book or roll with their neighbours, in their several +parishes: and if any minister refuse or neglect to appear at the said +summons, or refuse to take the said covenant before the committee, or to +tender it to his parish, that then the committees be careful to appoint +another minister to do it in his place. + +8. That this league and covenant be tendered to all men, within the +several parishes, above the age of eighteen, as well lodgers as +inhabitants. + +9. That it be recommended to the earl of Manchester, to take special +care, that it be tendered and taken in the university of Cambridge. + +10. That for the better encouragement of all sorts of persons to take +it, it be recommended to the assembly of divines, to make a brief +declaration, by way of exhortation, to all sorts of persons to take it, +as that which they judge not only lawful, but (all things considered) +exceeding expedient and necessary, for all that wish well to religion, +the king and kingdom, to join in, and to be a singular pledge of God's +gracious goodness to all the three kingdoms. + +11. That if any minister do refuse to take, or to tender the covenant, +or any other person, or persons, do not take it the Lord's day that it +is tendered, that then it be tendered to them again the Lord's day +following, and if they still continue to refuse it, that then their +names be returned by the minister that tenders it, and by the +church-wardens, or constables, unto the committees, and by them to the +house of commons, that such further course may be taken with them, as +the houses of parliament shall see cause. + +12. That all such persons as are within the several parishes, when +notice is given of the taking of it, and do absent themselves from the +church at the time of taking it, and come not in afterwards, to the +minister and church-wardens or other officers, to take it in their +presence before the return be made, be returned as refusers. + +13. The manner of the taking it to be thus; "The minister to read the +whole covenant distinctly and audibly in the pulpit, and, during the +time of the reading thereof, the whole congregation to be uncovered, and +at the end of his reading thereof, all to take it standing, lifting up +their right hands bare, and then afterwards to subscribe it severally by +writing their names, (or their marks, to which their names are to be +added) in a parchment roll, or a book, whereinto the covenant is to be +inserted, purposely provided for that end, and kept as a record in the +parish." + +14. That the Assembly of Divines do prepare an exhortation for the +better taking of the covenant: and that the said exhortation, and the +declaration of the kingdoms of England and Scotland, joined in the +armies for the vindication and defence of their religion, liberties and +laws, against the popish, prelatical and malignant party, and passed the +thirty of January last, be publicly read, when the covenant is read, +according to the fourth and fifth articles: and that a sufficient number +of the copies of the said declaration be sent by the persons, appointed +to send the true copies of the said covenant, in the first and second +articles. + + + + +THE SOLEMN LEAGUE AND COVENANT: + +EXHORTATION BY THE WESTMINSTER ASSEMBLY. + + +If the power of religion or solid reason, if loyalty to the king and +piety to their native country, or love to themselves and natural +affection to their posterity, if the example of men touched with a deep +sense of all these, or extraordinary success from God thereupon, can +awaken an embroiled, bleeding remnant to embrace the sovereign and only +means of their recovery, there can be no doubt but this solemn league +and covenant will find, wheresoever it shall be tendered, a people ready +to entertain it with all cheerfulness and duty. + +And were it not commended to the kingdom by the concurrent encouragement +of the honourable Houses of Parliament, the Assembly of Divines, the +renowned city of London, multitudes of other persons of eminent rank and +quality in this nation, and the whole body of Scotland, who have all +willingly sworn and subscribed it, with rejoicing at the oath, so +graciously seconded from heaven already by blasting the counsels, and +breaking the power of the enemy more than ever; yet it goeth forth in +its own strength, with such convincing evidence of equity, truth and +righteousness, as may raise in all (not wilfully ignorant, or miserably +seduced) inflamed affections to join with their brethren in this happy +bond, for putting an end to the present miseries, and for saving of both +king and kingdom from utter ruin, now so strongly and openly laboured by +the popish faction, and such as have been bewitched and besotted by +that viperous and bloody generation. + +For what is there almost in this covenant, which was not for substance +either expressed, or manifestly included in that solemn protestation of +May 5th, 1641, wherein the whole kingdom stands engaged until this day? +The sinful neglect whereof doth (as we may justly fear) open one +floodgate the more to let in all these calamities upon the kingdom, and +cast upon it a necessity of renewing covenant, and of entering into +this. + +If it be said, the extirpation of prelacy, to wit, the whole +hierarchical government (standing, as yet, by the known laws of the +kingdom) is new and unwarrantable: this will appear to all impartial +understandings, (tho' new) to be not only warrantable, but necessary; if +they consider (to omit what some say, that this government was never +formally established by any laws of this kingdom at all) that the very +life and soul thereof is already taken from it by an act passed in this +present parliament, so as (like Jezebel's carcase of which no more was +left but the skull, the feet, and the palms of her hands) nothing of +jurisdiction remains, but what is precarious in them, and voluntary in +those who submit unto them: that their whole government is at best but a +human constitution, and such as is found and adjudged by both houses of +parliament, (in which the judgment of the whole kingdom is involved and +declared) not only very prejudicial to the civil state, but a great +hindrance also to the perfect reformation of religion. Yea, who knoweth +it not to be too much an enemy thereunto, and destructive to the power +of godliness, and pure administration of the ordinances of Christ? Which +moved the well-affected, almost throughout this kingdom, long since to +petition this parliament (as hath been desired before, even in the reign +of queen Elizabeth, and of king James) for a total abolition of the +same. Nor is any man hereby bound to offer any violence to their +persons, but only in his place and calling, to endeavour their +extirpation in a lawful way. + +And as for those clergymen, who pretend that they (above all others) +cannot covenant to extirpate that government, because they have (as they +say) taken a solemn oath to obey the bishops, _in licitis et honestis:_ +they can tell, if they please, that they that have sworn obedience to +the laws of the land, are not thereby prohibited from endeavouring by +all lawful means the abolition of those laws, when they prove +inconvenient or mischievous. And if yet there should any oath be found, +into which any ministers or others have entered, not warranted by the +laws of God and the land, in this case they must teach themselves and +others, that such oaths call for repentance, not pertinacity in them. + +If it be pleaded, That this covenant crosseth the oaths of supremacy and +allegiance; there can be nothing further from truth; for, this covenant +binds all and more strongly engageth them to "preserve and defend the +king's majesty's person, and authority, in the preservation and defence +of the true religion and liberties of the kingdoms." + +That scruple, That this is done without the king's consent, will soon be +removed, if it be remembered, that the protestation of the fifth of May, +before-mentioned, was in the same manner voted and executed by both +houses, and after (by order of one house alone) sent abroad to all the +kingdom, his majesty not excepting against it, or giving any stop to it, +albeit he was resident in person at Whitehall. + +Thus Ezra and Nehemiah (Ezra x. Neh. ix.) drew all the people into a +covenant without any special commission from the Persian monarchs (then +their sovereigns) so to do, albeit they were not free subjects, but +vassals, and one of them the servant of Artaxerxes, then by conquest +king of Judah also. + +Nor hath this doctrine or practice been deemed seditious or +unwarrantable, by the princes, that have sat upon the English throne, +but justified and defended by Queen Elizabeth of blessed memory, with +the expense of much treasure and noble blood, in the united provinces of +the Netherlands combined not only without, but against the unjust +violence of Philip, king of Spain; king James followed her steps, so far +as to approve their union, and to enter into a league with them as free +states; which is continued by his majesty now reigning, unto this day; +who both by his expedition for relief of Rochel in France, and his +strict confederacy with the prince of Orange, and the states general, +notwithstanding all the importunity of Spain to the contrary, hath set +to his seal that all that had been done by his royal ancestors, in +maintainance of those who had so engaged and combined themselves, was +just and warrantable. + +And what had become of the religion, laws, and liberties of our sister +nation of Scotland, had they not entered into such a solemn league and +covenant at the beginning of the late troubles there? Which course +however it was at first, by the popish and prelatic projectors, +represented to his majesty, as an offence of the highest nature, justly +deserving chastisement by the fury of a puissant army; yet when the +matter came afterwards in cool blood to be debated, first by +commissioners of both kingdoms, and then in open parliament here, (when +all those of either house, who are now engaged at Oxford, were present +in parliament, and gave their votes therein) it was found, adjudged and +declared by the king in parliament, that our dear brethren of Scotland +had done nothing but what became loyal and obedient subjects, and were +by act of parliament publicly righted in all the churches of this +kingdom, where they had been defamed. + +Therefore, however some men, hoodwinked and blinded by the artifices of +those Jesuitical engineers, who have long conspired to sacrifice our +religion to the idolatry of Rome, our laws, liberties and persons to +arbitrary slavery, and our estates to their insatiable avarice, may +possibly be deterred and amused with high threats and declarations, +flying up and down on the wings of the royal name and countenance, now +captivated and prostituted to serve all their lusts, to proclaim all +rebels and traitors who take this covenant; yet, let no faithful English +heart be afraid to join with our brethren of all the three kingdoms in +this solemn league, as sometimes the men of Israel, although under +another king, did with the men of Judah, at the invitation of Hezekiah. + +What though those tongues set on fire by hell do rail and threaten? That +God who was pleased to clear up the innocency of Mordecai and the Jews, +against all the malicious aspersions of wicked Haman to his and their +sovereign, so as all his plotting produced but this effect, that (Esther +ix.) "When the king's commandments and decree drew near to be put in +execution, and the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them, it +was turned to the contrary, and the Jews had rule over them that hated +them, and laid hands on such as sought their hurt, so as no man could +withstand them;" and that same God, who, but even as yesterday +vouchsafed to disperse and scatter those dark clouds and fogs, which +overshadowed that loyal and religious kingdom of Scotland, and to make +their righteousness to shine as clear as the sun at noon-day, in the +very eyes of their greatest enemies, will doubtlessly stand by all those +who, with singleness of heart, and a due sense of their own sins, and a +necessity of reformation, shall now enter into an everlasting covenant +with the Lord, never to be forgotten, to put an end to all those unhappy +and unnatural breaches between the king and such as are faithful in the +land; causing their "righteousness and praise to spring forth before all +the nations," to the terror and confusion of those men of blood, the +confederate enemies of God and the king, who have long combined, and +have now raked together the dregs and scum of many kingdoms, to bury all +the glory, honour and liberty of this nation in the eternal grave of +dishonour and destruction. + + + + +THE SOLEMN LEAGUE AND COVENANT. + +SERMON AT LONDON. + +_BY EDMOND CALAMY._[14] + +"Truce-breakers (or covenant-breakers)."--2 _Tim._ iii. 3. + + +In the beginning of the chapter, the apostle tells us the condition that +the church of God should be in, in the last days. "This know also, that +in the last days perilous times shall come." In the second verse, he +tells us the reason why these times should be such hard and dangerous +times; "for men shall be lovers of themselves, covetous," &c. The reason +is not drawn from the miseries and calamities of the last times, but +from the sins and iniquities of the last times. It is sin and iniquity +that make times truly perilous. Sin, and sin only, takes away God's love +and favour from a nation, and makes God turn an enemy to it. Sin causeth +God to take away the purity and power of His ordinances from a nation. +Sin makes all the creatures to be armed against us, and makes our own +consciences to fight against us. Sin is the cause of all the causes of +perilous times. Sin is the cause of our civil wars. Sin is the cause of +our divisions. Sin is the cause why men fall into such dangerous errors. +Sin brings such kinds of judgments, which no other thing can bring. Sin +brings invisible, spiritual, and eternal judgments. It is sin that makes +God give over a nation to a reprobate sense. Sin makes all times +dangerous. Let the times be never so prosperous, yet if they be sinful +times, they are times truly dangerous. And if they be not sinful, they +are not dangerous, though never so miserable. It is sin that makes +afflictions to be the fruits of God's avenging wrath, part of the curse +due to sin, and a beginning of hell. It is sin, and sin only, that +embitters every affliction. Let us for ever look upon sin through these +scripture spectacles. + +The apostle, in four verses, reckons up nineteen sins, as the causes of +the miseries of the last days. I may truly call these nineteen sins, +England's looking-glass, wherein we may see what are the clouds that +eclipse God's countenance from shining upon us; the mountains that lie +in the way to hinder the settlement of church-discipline: even these +nineteen sins, which are as an iron-whip of nineteen strings, with which +God is whipping England at this day; which are as nineteen faggots, with +which God is burning and devouring England. My purpose is not to speak +of all these sins; only let me propound a divine project, how to make +the times happy for soul and body. And that is to strike at the root of +all misery, which is sin and iniquity: to repent for and from all these +nineteen sins, which are as the oil that feeds and increases the flame +that is now consuming of us. For, because men are lovers of themselves, +_usque ad contemptum Dei et republicae_; because men drive their own +designs, not only to the neglect, but contempt of God and the +commonwealth. Because men are covetous, lovers of the world, more than +lovers of God. Because they are proud in head, heart, looks and apparel. +Because they are unthankful, turning the mercies of God into +instruments of sin, and making darts with God's blessings to shoot +against God. Because men are unholy and heady, and make many covenants, +and keep none. Because they are (as the Greek word _diaboloi_ +signifieth) devils, acting the devil's part, in accusing the brethren, +and in bearing false witness one against another. Because they have a +"form of godliness, denying the power thereof." Hence it is that these +times are so sad and bloody. These are thy enemies, O England, that have +brought thee into this desolate condition! If ever God lead us back into +the wilderness, it will be because of these sins. And therefore, if ever +ye would have blessed days, you must make it your great business to +remove these nineteen mountains, and repent of these land-devouring and +soul-destroying abominations. + +At this time, I shall pick out the first and tenth sin to speak on. The +first is, _Self-love;_ which is placed in the forefront, as the cause of +all the rest. Self-love is not only a sin that makes the times perilous, +but it is the cause of all these sins that make the times perilous; for, +because men are lovers of themselves, therefore they are covetous, +proud, unholy. The tenth sin is, _Truce-breakers_, and, for fear lest +the time should prevent me, I shall begin with this sin first. + +The tenth sin then is truce-breakers; or, as Rom. i. 31., +"Covenant-breakers." The Greek word is _aspondoi_, which signifieth +three things; _First_, Such as are _foederis nescii_, as Beza renders it; +or, as others, _infoederabilis_; that is, such as refuse to enter into +covenant. Or, _Secondly_, Such as are _foedifragi, qui pacta non +servant_, as Estius hath it, or _sine fide_, as Ambrose; that is, such +as break faith and covenant. Or, _Thirdly_, Such as are _implacabilis_; +or, as others, _sine pace_; that is, such as are implacable, and haters +of peace. According to this threefold sense of the word, I shall gather +these three observations. + +Doctrine 1. That to be a covenant-refuser is a sin that makes the times +perilous. + +Doct. 2. That to be a covenant-breaker is a sin that makes the times +perilous. + +Doct. 3. That to be a peace-hater, or a truce-hater, is a sin that makes +the times perilous. + +Doct. 4. That to be a covenant refuser is a sin that makes the times +perilous; to be _foederis nescius_, or _infoederabilis_. For the +understanding of this, you must know that there are two sorts of +covenants, there are devilish and hellish covenants, and there are godly +and religious covenants. First, There are devilish covenants, such as +Acts xxiii. 12, and Isa. xxviii. 15, such as the holy league, as it was +unjustly called in France, against the Huguenots, and that of our +gun-powder traitors in England. Now, to refuse to make such covenants is +not to make the times perilous, but the taking of them makes the times +perilous. Secondly, There are godly covenants, as Psal. cxix. 106, and +as 2 Chron. xv. 14: and such as this is which you are met to take this +day. For you are to swear to such things which you are bound to +endeavour after, though you did not swear. Your swearing is not _solum +vinculum_, but _novum vinculum_, is not the only, but only a new and +another bond to tie you to the obedience of the things you swear unto; +which are so excellent and so glorious, that if God gave those that take +it a heart to keep it, it will make these three kingdoms the glory of +the world. And as one of the reverend commissioners of Scotland said, +when it was first taken in a most solemn manner at Westminster, by the +parliament and the assembly, "That if the pope should have this covenant +written upon a wall over against him sitting in his chair, it would be +unto him like the hand-writing to Belshazzar, causing his joints to +loose, and his knees to smite one against another." And I may add, that +if it be faithfully and fully kept, it will make all the devils in hell +to tremble, as fearing lest their kingdom should not stand long. Now +then, for a man to be an anti-covenanter, and to be such a +covenant-refuser, it must needs be a sin that makes the times perilous. + +And the reasons are, 1. Because you shall find in scripture, That when +any nation did enter into a solemn religious covenant, God did +exceedingly bless and prosper that nation after that time, as "That thou +shouldst enter into covenant with the Lord thy God, that He may +establish thee to-day for a people to Himself, and that He may be unto +thee a God." And therefore to be a covenant-refuser, is to make our +miseries perpetual. 2. Because it is the highest act of God's love to +man, to vouchsafe to engage Himself by oath and covenant to be his God; +so it is the highest demonstration of man's love to God, to bind himself +by oath and covenant to be God's. There is nothing obligeth God more to +us, than to see us willing to tie and bind ourselves unto His service: +and therefore, they that in this sense are anti-covenanters are sons of +Belial, that refuse the yoke of the Lord, that say, "Let us break His +bands asunder, and cast away His cords, from us;" such as _oderunt +vincula pietatis_, which is a soul-destroying, and a land-destroying +sin. 3. Because that the union of England, Scotland and Ireland, into +one covenant, is the chief, if not the only preservative of them at this +time. You find in our English chronicles, that England was never +destroyed, but when divided within itself. Our civil divisions brought +in the Romans, the Saxons, Danes and Normans; but now the +anti-covenanters divide the parliament within itself, and the city +within itself, and England against itself; they are as stones separated +from the building, which are of no use to itself, and threaten the ruin +of the building. Jesus Christ is called in Scripture, the +"Corner-stone," which is a stone that unites the two ends of the +building together. Jesus Christ is a stone of union: and therefore they +that sow division, and study unjust separation, have little of Jesus +Christ in them. When the ten tribes began to divide from the other two +tribes, they presently began to war one against another, and to ruin one +another: the anti-covenanter, he divides and separates and disunites. +And therefore he makes perilous times. + +My chief aim is at the second doctrine, + +Doctrine 2. That for a covenant-taker to be a covenant-breaker, is a sin +that makes the times perilous. For the opening of this point, I must +distinguish again of covenants. There are civil, and there are religious +covenants; a civil covenant is a covenant between man and man; and of +this the text is primarily, though not only, to be understood. Now, for +a man to break promise and covenant with his brother, is a +land-destroying, and a soul-destroying abomination. We read, 2 Sam. +xxi., that because Saul had broken the covenant that Joshua made with +the Gibeonites, God sent a famine in David's time, of three years' +continuance, to teach us that, if we falsify our word and oath, God will +avenge covenant-breaking, though it be forty years after. Famous is that +text in Jeremiah. Because the princes and the people brake the covenant +which they had made with their servants, though but their servants, God +tells them, "Because ye have not hearkened unto Me, in proclaiming +liberty every one to his brother.... Behold, I proclaim liberty for you, +saith the Lord, to the sword, to the pestilence, and to the famine: and +I will make you to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth." We +read also, that God tells Zedekiah, because he brake the covenant he had +made with the king of Babylon, that therefore, "He would recompense upon +his head the oath that he had despised, and the covenant that he had +broken, and would bring him to Babylon, and plead with him there for the +trespass which he had trespassed against the Lord." David tells us, that +it is a sin that shuts a man out of heaven. The Turkish history tells +us of a covenant made between Amurath, that great Turk, and Ladislaus, +king of Hungary, and how the pope absolved Ladislaus from the oath, and +provoked him to renew the war: in which war the Turk, being put to the +worst, and despairing of victory, pulls out a paper which he had in his +bosom, wherein the league was written, and said, "O Thou God of the +Christians, if Thou beest a true God, be avenged of those that have, +without cause, broken the league made by calling upon Thy name." And the +story says, that after he had spoken these words, he had, as it were, "a +new heart, and spirit put into him and his soldiers," and that they +obtained a glorious victory over Ladislaus. Thus God avenged the quarrel +of man's covenant. The like story we read of Rudolphus, duke of Sweden, +who, by the pope's instigation, waged war with Henry IV., emperor of +Germany, to whom he had sworn to the contrary. But, in the fight it +chanced that Rudolphus lost his right hand, and falling sick upon it, he +called for it and said, "Behold this right hand with which I subscribed +to the emperor, with which I have violated my oath, and therefore I am +rightly punished." I will not trouble you with relating that gallant +story of Regulus, that chose rather to expose himself to a cruel death, +than to falsify his oath to the Carthaginians. The sum of all is, if it +be such a crying abomination to break covenant between man and man; and +if such persons are accounted as the off-scouring of men, not worthy to +live in a Christian, no, not in a heathen commonwealth: if it be a sin +that draws down vengeance from heaven; much more for a man to enter into +covenant with the great Jehovah, and to break such a religious +engagement: this must needs be a destroying and soul-damning sin. And of +such religious covenants I am now to speak. + +There are two covenants that God made with man, a covenant of nature, +and a covenant of grace. The covenant of nature, or of works, was made +with Adam, and all mankind in him. This covenant Adam broke, and God +presently had a quarrel against him for breaking of it. And, to avenge +the quarrel of the covenant, he was thrust out of paradise, and there +was a sword also placed at the east end of the garden of Eden, to avenge +covenant-breaking. And by nature we are all children of wrath, heirs of +hell, because of the breach of that covenant. And therefore we should +never think of original sin, or of the sinfulness and cursedness of our +natural condition, but we should remember what a grievous sin +covenant-breaking is. + +But, after man was fallen, God was pleased to strike a new covenant, +which is usually called a covenant of grace, or of reconciliation. This +was first propounded to Adam by way of promise, "The seed of the woman +shall bruise the serpent's head." And then to Abraham by way of +covenant, "In thy seed shall all the nations of the world be blessed." +And then to Moses by way of testament. It is nothing else but the free +and gracious tender of Jesus Christ, and all His rich purchases to all +the lost and undone sons of Adam, that shall believe in Him: or as the +phrase is, "That shall take hold of the covenant." Now you must know +that baptism is a seal of this covenant, and that all that are baptised +do, sacramentally at least, engage themselves to walk before God, and to +be upright; and God likewise engages Himself to be their God. This +covenant is likewise renewed when we come to the Lord's Supper, wherein +we bind ourselves, by a sacramental oath, unto thankfulness to God for +Christ. Add further, that besides this general covenant of grace, +whereof the sacraments are seals, there are particular and personal, and +family and national covenants. Thus, Job had his covenant; and David. +And when he came to be king, he joined in covenant with his people to +serve the Lord. Thus Asa, Jehoiada, Josiah, and others. Thus the people +of Israel had not only a covenant in circumcision, but renewed a +covenant at Horeb and Moab, and did often again and again bind +themselves to God by vow and covenant. And thus the churches of Christ. +Christians, besides the vows in baptism, have many personal and national +engagements unto God by covenant, which are nothing else but the +renovations and particular applications of that first vow in baptism. Of +this nature is that you are to renew this day. + +Now give me leave to shew you what a sword-procuring and soul-undoing +sin, this sin of covenant-breaking is; and then the reason of it. Famous +is that text, "And I will send My sword, which shall avenge the quarrel +of My covenant." The words in the Hebrew run thus, "I will avenge the +avengement," which importeth this much, that God is at open war and at +public defiance with those that break His covenant: He is not only angry +with them, but He will be revenged of them. "The Lord hath a controversy +with all covenant-breakers." "The Lord will walk contrary to them." +First, God takes His people into covenant, and then He tells them of the +happy condition they should be in, if they did keep the covenant; but if +they did break covenant, He tells them, "that the Lord will not spare +him; but the anger of the Lord and His jealousy shall smoke against that +man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon +him, and the Lord shall blot out his name from under heaven, and the +Lord shall separate him. And when the nation shall say, Wherefore hath +the Lord done thus unto the land? What meaneth the heat of this great +anger? Then shall men say. Because they have forsaken the covenant of +the Lord God of their fathers." This was the sin that caused God to send +His people Israel into captivity, and to remove the candlestick from the +Asian churches. It is for this sin, that the sword is now devouring +Germany, Ireland, and England. God hath sent His sword to avenge the +quarrel of His covenant. + +The reasons why this sin is a God-provoking sin, are, First, because +that, to sin against the covenant is a greater sin than to sin against a +commandment of God, or to sin against a promise, or to sin against an +ordinance of God. 1. It is a greater sin than to break a commandment of +God; for the more mercy there is in the thing we sin against, the +greater is the sin. Now there is more mercy in a covenant than in a bare +commandment. The commandment tells us our duty, but gives no power to do +it. But the covenant of grace, gives power to do what it requires to be +done. And therefore, if it be a hell-procuring sin to break the least of +God's commandments, much more to be a covenant breaker. 2. It is a +greater sin than to sin against a promise of God; because a covenant is +a promise joined with an oath. It is a mutual stipulation between God +and us: and therefore, if it be a great sin to break promise, much more +to break covenant. 3. It is a greater sin than to sin against an +ordinance, because the covenant is the root and ground of all the +ordinances. It is by virtue of the covenant that we are made partakers +of the ordinances: the word is the book of the covenant, and the +sacraments are the seals of the covenant. And if it be a sin of an high +nature to sin against the book of the covenant, and the seals of the +covenant, much more against the covenant itself. To break covenant, is a +fundamental sin; it razeth the very foundation of Christianity, because +the covenant is the foundation of all the privileges, and prerogatives, +and hopes of the saints of God: and therefore we read that a stranger +from the covenant is one "without hope." All hope of heaven is cut off, +where the covenant is willingly broken. To break covenant is an +universal sin, it includes all other sins. By virtue of the covenant, we +tie ourselves to the obedience of God's commandments, we give up +ourselves to the guidance of Jesus Christ, we own Him for our Lord and +King; all the promises of this life, and that which is to come, are +contained within the covenant. The ordinances are fruits of the +covenant: and therefore they that forsake the covenant, commit many sins +in one, and bring not only many but all curses upon their heads. The sum +of the first argument is, "If the Lord will avenge the quarrel of his +commandments," if God was avenged upon the stick-gatherer for breaking +the Sabbath, much more will he be avenged upon a covenant-breaker. If +God will avenge the quarrel of an ordinance; if they that reject the +ordinances shall be punished, "of how much sorer punishment shall they +be thought worthy, that trample under their feet the blood of the +covenant?" If God was avenged of those that abused the ark of the +covenant, much more will He punish those that abuse the Angel of the +covenant. + +The Second reason why covenant-breaking is such a land destroying sin +is, because it is a solemn and serious thing to enter into covenant with +God; a matter of such great weight and importance, that it is impossible +but God should be exceedingly provoked with these that slight it, and +disrespect it. The vow in baptism is the first, the most general, and +the solemnest that any Christian took, saith Chrysostom; wherein he doth +not only promise, but engage himself by covenant in the sight of God, +and His holy angels, to be the servant of Jesus Christ; and therefore +God will not hold him guiltless, that breaks this vow. The solemnity and +weightiness of covenant-taking consisteth in three things. 1. Because it +is made with the glorious majesty of heaven and earth, who will not be +trifled and baffled withal; and therefore, what Jehoshaphat said to his +judges, "Take heed what ye do: for ye judge not for men, but for the +Lord, who is with you in the judgment. Wherefore now, let the fear of +the Lord be upon you," the like I may say to every one that enters into +covenant this day; "Take heed what ye do; for it is the Lord's covenant, +and there is no iniquity with the Lord: wherefore now, let the fear of +the Lord be upon you; for our God is a holy God, He is a jealous God, +He will not forgive your transgressions, nor your sins." 2. Because the +articles of the covenant are weighty, and of great importance. In the +covenant of grace, God engageth Himself to give Christ, and with Him all +temporal, spiritual, and eternal blessings, and we engage ourselves to +be His faithful servants all our days. In this covenant, we oblige +ourselves to do great matters, that nearly concern the glory of God, the +good of our souls, and the happiness of the three kingdoms. And in such +holy and heavenly things, which so nearly concern our everlasting +estate, to dally and trifle must needs incense the anger of the great +Jehovah. 3. The manner used both by Jews, heathens and Christians in +entering into covenant, doth clearly set out the weightiness of it, and +what a horrible sin it is to break it. The custom among the Jews, will +appear by divers texts of scripture. It is said, "And I will give the +men that have transgressed my covenant, which they had made before me, +when they cut the calf in twain, and passed between the parts thereof." +The words they used when they passed between the parts, were "So God +divide me, if I keep not covenant." Nehemiah took an oath of the +priests, and shook his lap, and said, "So God shake out every man from +his house, and from his labour, that performeth not this promise; even +thus be he shaken out and emptied. And all the congregation said, Amen." +Abraham divided the heifer, and she-goat, and a ram. "And when the sun +was down, a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp, passed between these +pieces." This did represent God's presence, saith Clemens Alexandrinus, +and as if God should say, "Behold, this day I enter into covenant with +thee, and if thou keepest covenant, I will be as a burning lamp to +enlighten, and to comfort thee: but if thou breakest covenant, I will be +like a smoking furnace to consume thee." Thus also Moses makes a +covenant with Israel, and offers sacrifices, and takes the blood of the +sacrifices and divides it, and half of it he sprinkles upon the altar, +(which represents God's part) and the other half he sprinkles upon the +people, as if he should say, "As this blood is divided, so will God +divide you, if ye break covenant." This was the custom among the Jews, +amongst the Romans. Sometimes they make covenants by taking a stone in +their hands, and saying, "If I make this covenant seriously and +faithfully, then let the great Jupiter bless me; if not so, let me be +cast away from the face of the gods, as I cast away this stone." This +was called _jurare per Jovem lapidem_. All these things are not empty +notions and metaphorical shadows, but real and substantial practices; +signifying unto us, that God will and must (for it stands with His +honour to do it) divide and break them in pieces that break covenant +with Him. This day you are to take a covenant by the lifting up of your +hands unto the most high God, which is a most emphatical ceremony, +whereby we do as it were call God to be a witness and a judge of what we +do, and a rewarder or revenger, according as we keep or break this +covenant. If we keep it, the lifting up of our hands will be as an +evening sacrifice; if we break it, the lifting up our hands will be as +the lifting up of the hands of a malefactor at the bar, and will procure +woe and misery, and wringing of hands at the great day of appearing. + +The Third reason why God will be avenged of those that are +covenant-breakers, is: Because that a covenant is the greatest +obligation and the most forcible claim that can be invented to tie us to +obedience and service. God may justly challenge obedience without +covenanting, by virtue of creation, preservation and redemption: He hath +made us, and, when lost, He hath purchased us with His blood. But being +willing more abundantly to manifest His love, that we be the more +fastened to Him, He hath tied Himself to us, and us to Him, by the +strong bond of a covenant: as if God should say, Oh ye sons of men! I +see you are rebellious and sons of Belial, and therefore, if it be +possible, I will make sure. I will engage you unto Me, not only by +creation, preservation and redemption, but also by the right of covenant +and association. I will make you Mine by promise and oath. And surely he +that will break these bonds is as bad as the man possessed with the +devil in the gospel, whom no chains could keep fast. When we enter into +covenant with God, we take the oath of supremacy, and swear unto Him, +that He should be our chief lord and governor, and that we will admit of +no sovereign power or jurisdiction, but that God shall be all in all. We +likewise take the oath of allegiance, to be His servants and vassals, +and that He shall be our supreme in spirituals and temporals. Now, for a +Christian that believes there is a God, to break both these oaths of +allegiance and supremacy, it is cursed treason against the God of +heaven, which surely God will be avenged of. Amongst the Romans, when +any soldier was pressed, he took an oath to serve the captain +faithfully, and not to forsake him, and he was called _miles per +sacramentum_. Sometimes one took an oath for all the rest, and the +others only said, the same oath that A.B. took, the same do I. And these +were called _milites per conjurationem_. And when any soldier forsook +his captain, he had the martial law executed upon him. Thus it is with +every Christian: he is a professed soldier of Christ, he hath taken +press-money, he hath sworn and taken the sacrament upon it to become the +Lord's, he is _miles per sacramentum_, and _miles per conjurationem_: +and if he forsake his captain and break covenant, the great Lord of +Hosts will be avenged of him, as it is written, "Cursed be the man that +obeyeth not the words of the covenant." To break covenant is a sin of +perjury, which is a sin of an high nature; and if for oaths the land +mourneth, much more for breach of oaths. To break covenant is a sin of +spiritual adultery; for by covenanting with God, we do as it were, +"join ourselves in marriage to God," as the Hebrew word signifieth. Now, +to break the marriage knot is a sin for which God may justly give a bill +of divorce to a nation. To break covenant is a sin of injustice; for by +our covenant we do enter, as it were, into bond to God, and engage +ourselves as a creditor to his debtor; now the sin of injustice is a +land-destroying sin. + +The Fourth reason why God must needs be avenged on those that are +covenant-breakers, is, It is an act of the highest sacrilege that can be +committed. For, by virtue of the covenant, the Lord lays claim to us as +His peculiar inheritance. "I sware unto thee, and entered into covenant +with thee, and thou becamest Mine." "I will be their God, and they shall +be My people." It is a worthy observation, that in the covenant there is +a double surrender, one on God's part, and another on our part. God +Almighty makes a surrender of Himself, and of his Son, and of the Holy +Ghost. Behold, saith God, I am wholly thy God; all My power, and mercy, +and goodness, all is thine; My Son is thine, and all His rich purchases; +My Spirit is thine, and all His graces: this is God's surrender. On our +part, when we take hold of the covenant, we make a delivery of our +bodies and souls into the hands of God; we choose Him to be our Lord and +Governor, we resign up ourselves into His hands. Lord, we are Thine at +Thy disposing: we alienate ourselves, and make a deed of gift of +ourselves, and give Thee lock and key of head, heart, and affections. +This is the nature of every religious covenant, but especially of the +covenant of grace. But now, for a Christian to call in, as it were, his +surrender, to disclaim his resignation, to steal away himself from God, +and lay claim to himself after his alienation; to fulfil his own lusts, +to walk after his own ways, to do what he lists, and not what he hath +covenanted to do, and so to rob God of what is His: this is the highest +degree of sacrilege, which God will never suffer to go unpunished. And +surely if the stick-gatherer, that did but alienate a little of God's +time; and Ananias and Sapphira, that withheld but some part of their +estate: and if Belshazzar for abusing the consecrated vessels of the +temple, were so grievously punished; how much more will God punish those +that alienate themselves from the service of that God to whom they have +sworn to be obedient? It is observed by a learned author, of the famous +commanders of the Romans, that they never prospered after they had +defiled and robbed the temple of Jerusalem. First, Pompey the Great, +went into the _sanctum sanctorum_, a place never before entered by any +but the high-priest, and the Lord blasted him in all his proceedings, +"that he that before that time wanted earth to overcome, had not at last +earth enough to bury him withal." The next was Crassus, who took away +10,000 talents of gold from the temple, and afterward died, by having +gold poured down his throat. The third was Cassius, who afterwards +killed himself. If then God did thus avenge Himself of those that +polluted His consecrated temple; much more will He not leave them +unpunished, that are the living temples of the Holy Ghost, consecrated +to God by covenant, and afterwards proving sacrilegious, robbing God of +that worship and service, which they have sworn to give Him. + +The Fifth reason why this sin makes the times perilous, is; Because +covenant-breakers are reckoned amongst the number of those that have the +mark of reprobation upon them. I do not say that they are all +reprobates, yet I say, that the apostle makes it to be one of those sins +which are committed by those that are given up "to a reprobate mind." +The words are spoken of the heathen, and are to be understood of +covenants made between man and man; and then the argument will hold _a +fortiori_. If it be the brand of a reprobate to break covenant with man, +much more a covenant made with the great Jehovah by the lifting up of +our hands to heaven. + +The Last reason is, because it is a sin against such infinite mercy. It +is said, "Which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto +them;" that is, although I had chosen them for my spouse, and married +myself unto them with an everlasting covenant of mercy, and entailed +heaven unto them, yet they have broken my covenant. This was a great +provocation. Thus, "When thou wast in thy blood, and no eye pitied thee, +to have compassion upon thee, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy +blood, Live: Yea, I said unto thee, Live." It is twice repeated. As if +God should say, "Mark it, O Israel, when no eye regarded thee, then I +said unto thee, Live." Behold, saith God, "Thy time was the time of +love." Behold, and wonder at it. "And I spread my skirt over thee, and +covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into covenant +with thee, saith the Lord, and thou becamest Mine." And yet for all +this, thou has sinned grievously against Me. "Wo, wo unto thee, saith +the Lord God." + +There is a fivefold mercy in the covenant, especially in the covenant of +grace, that makes the sin of covenant-breaking to be so odious. + +1. It is a mercy that the great God will vouchsafe to enter into +covenant with dust and ashes. As David saith in another case, "Is it a +light thing to be the son-in-law of a king?" So may I say, "Is it a +light matter for the Lord of heaven and earth to condescend so far as to +covenant with His poor creatures, and thereby to become their debtors, +and to make them, as it were, His equals?" When Jonathan and David +entered into a covenant of friendship, though one was a king's son, the +other a poor shepherd, yet there was a kind of equality between them. +But this must be understood warily, according to the text. "Blessed be +God, who hath called us unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our +Lord." He is still our Lord, though in fellowship with us. It is a +covenant of infinite condescension on God's part, whereby He enters into +a league of friendship with His people. + +2. The mercy is the greater, because this covenant was made after the +fall of Adam. After we had broken the first covenant, that the Lord +should try us the second time, is not only an act of infinite goodness +of God, but of infinite mercy. There is a difference between the +goodness and the mercy of God. Goodness may be shewed to those that are +not in misery: but mercy supposeth misery. And this was our condition +after the breach of the first covenant. + +3. That God should make this covenant with man, and not with devils. + +4. This sets out the mercy of the covenant, because it contains such +rare and glorious benefits, and therefore it is called a covenant of +life and peace. "An everlasting covenant even the sure mercies of +David." It is compared to the waters of Noah, Isa. liv. 6. Famous are +those two texts; Exod. xix. 5, 6; Jer. xxxii. 40, 41--texts that hold +forth strong consolation. By virtue of the covenant, heaven is not only +made possible, but certain to all believers, and certain by way of oath. +It is by virtue of the covenant that we call Him Father, and may lay +claim to all the power, wisdom, goodness and mercy, that are in God. As +Jehoshaphat told the king of Israel, to whom he was joined in covenant, +"I am as thou art, my people as thy people, my horses as thy horses:" so +doth God say to all that are in covenant with Him, "My power is thine, +My holiness is thine." By virtue of this covenant, whatsoever thou +wantest, God cannot deny it thee, if it be good for thee. Say unto God, +Lord, Thou hast sworn to take away my heart of stone, and to give me a +heart of flesh, Thou hast sworn to write Thy law in my heart, Thou hast +sworn to circumcise my heart, Thou hast sworn to give me Christ, to be +my king, priest and prophet. And God cannot but be a covenant-keeper. +By virtue of this covenant, God cannot but accept of a poor penitent +sinner, laying hold upon Christ for pardon. In a word, we may challenge +pardon and heaven by our covenant. God is not only merciful but just to +forgive us; we may challenge heaven through Christ, out of justice. And + +5. That the condition of the covenant on our part should be upon such +easy terms, therefore it is called a covenant of free grace, and all +that God requires of us is to take hold of this covenant; to receive +this gift of righteousness; to take all Christ, as He is tendered in the +covenant; and, that which is the greatest consolation of all, God hath +promised in His covenant to do our part for us. Therefore it is called a +testament, rather than a covenant. In the New Testament, the word +_diatheke_, is always used by the apostle, and not _syntheke_. Heaven is +conveyed into the elect by way of legacy. It is part of God's testament, +to write His law in our hearts, and to cause us to walk in His ways. Put +these together, seeing there is such infinite mercy in the covenant. A +mercy, for God to enter into covenant with us, to do it with us, and not +the angels; with us fallen, with us upon, such easy terms, and to make +such a covenant that contains so many, and not only so but all blessings +here and hereafter, in the womb of it. It must needs be a +land-destroying, and soul-destroying sin, to be a covenant-breaker. + +The use and application of this doctrine is fourfold. 1. Of information. +If it be such a land-destroying sin to be a covenant-breaker, let us +from hence learn the true cause of all the miseries that have happened +unto England in these late years. The womb out of which all our +calamities are come--England hath broken covenant with God, and now God +is breaking England in pieces, even as a potter breaks a vessel in +pieces. "God hath sent His sword to avenge the quarrel of His covenant," +as Christ whipped the buyers and sellers out of the temple, with whips +made of the cords which they had brought to tie their oxen and sheep +withal. A covenant is a cord to tie us to God; and now God hath made an +iron whip of that covenant which we have broken asunder, to whip us +withal. + +We are a nation in covenant with God, we have the books of the covenant, +the Old and New Testament; we have the seals of the covenant, baptism, +and the Lord's supper; we have the messengers of the covenant, the +ministers of the Gospel; we have the angel of the covenant, the Lord +Jesus Christ, fully, freely, and clearly set out before us in the +ministry of the word: but alas! are not these blessings amongst us, as +the ark was amongst the Philistines, rather as prisoners, than as +privileges, rather _in testimonium et ruinam, quam in salutem_; rather +for our ruin, than for our happiness? May it not be said of us, as +reverend Mulin said of the French protestants, "While they burned us +(saith he) for reading the scriptures, we burned with zeal to be reading +of them; now with our liberty is bred also negligence and disesteem of +God's word." So is it with us, while we were under the tyranny of +bishops; Oh! how sweet was a fasting day? How beautiful were the feet of +them that brought the gospel of peace unto you? How dear and precious +were God's people one to another? But now, how are our fasting days +slighted and vilified? How are the people of God divided one from +another, railing upon (instead of loving) one another? And is not the +godly ministry as much persecuted by the tongues of some that would be +accounted godly, as heretofore by the bishop's hands? Is not the Holy +Bible by some rather wrested than read? Wrested, I say, by ignorant and +unstable souls, to their own destruction? And as for the seals of the +covenant, 1. For the Lord's supper, how oft have we spilt the blood of +Christ by our unworthy approaches to His table? And hence it is, that He +is now spilling our blood; how hard a matter is it, to obtain power to +keep the blood of Christ from being profaned by ignorant and scandalous +communicants? And can we think, that God will be easily entreated to +sheath up His bloody sword, and to cease shedding our blood? 2. For the +sacrament of baptism; how cruel are men grown to their little infants, +by keeping of them from the seal of entrance into the kingdom of heaven, +and making their children to be just in the same condition with the +children of Turks and Infidels? I remember, at the beginning of these +wars there was a great fear fell upon godly people about their little +children, and all their care was for their preservation and their +safety; and for the continuance of the gospel to them. But now, our +little children are likely to be in a worse condition than ever. And all +this is come upon us as a just punishment of our baptismal +covenant-breaking. And as for Jesus Christ, who is the angel of the +covenant: are there not some amongst us that ungod Jesus Christ? And is +it not fit and equal that God should unchurch us and unpeople us? Are +there not thousands that have sworn to be Christ's servants, and yet are +in their lives the vassals of sin and Satan? And shall not God be +avenged of such a nation as this? These things considered, it is no +wonder our miseries are so great, but the wonder is that they are not +greater. + +2. An use of examination. Days of humiliation ought to be days of +self-examination. Let us therefore upon such a day as this, examine, +whether we be not amongst the number of those that make the times +perilous, whether we be not covenant-breakers? Here I will speak of +three covenants; 1. Of the covenant we have made with God in our +baptism. 2. Of the covenant we have made with God in our distresses. 3. +And especially of this covenant you are to renew this day. + +1. Of the covenant which we made in baptism, and renew every time we +come to the Lord's supper, and upon our solemn days of fasting. There +are none here, but I may say of them, "the vows of God are upon you." +You are _servi nati, empti, jurati_, you are the born, bought, and sworn +servants of God, you have made a surrender of yourselves unto God and +Christ. The question I put to you is this: How often have you broken +covenant with God? It is said, "The sinners in Zion are afraid; who +shall dwell with everlasting torments? Who shall dwell with devouring +fire?" When God comes to a church-sinner, to a sinner under the Old +Testament, much more to a Christian sinner, a sinner under the New +Testament, and layeth to his charge his often covenant-breaking, +fearfulness shall possess him, and he will cry out, "Oh! woe is me, who +can dwell with everlasting burnings? Our God is a consuming fire, and we +are as stubble before Him; who can stand before His indignation? Who can +abide in the fierceness of His anger? When His fury is poured forth like +fire, and the rocks are thrown down before Him. Who can stand?" Of all +sorts of creatures, a sinful Christian shall not be able to stand before +the Lord, when He comes to visit the world for their sins. For when a +Christian sins against God, he sins not only against the commandment but +against the covenant. And in every sin he is a commandment-breaker, and +a covenant-breaker. And therefore, whereas the apostle saith, +"tribulation and anguish upon every soul that sinneth: but first upon +the Jews," I may add, first, upon the Christian, then upon the Jew, and +then upon the Grecian, because the covenant made with the Christian is +called a better covenant: and therefore his sins have a higher +aggravation in them. There is a notable passage in Austin, in which he +brings in the devil thus pleading with God, against a wicked Christian +at the day of judgment. Oh! Thou righteous Judge, give righteous +judgment; judge him to be mine who refused to be Thine, even after he +had renounced me in his baptism; what had he to do to wear my livery? +What had he to do with gluttony, drunkenness, pride, wantonness, +incontinency, and the rest of my ware? All these things he hath +practised, since he renounced the devil and all his works. Mine he is, +judge righteous judgment; for he whom Thou hast not disdained to die +for, hath obliged himself to me by his sins. + +Now, what can God say to this charge of the devil's, but take him, +devil, seeing he would be thine; take him, torment him with everlasting +torments. Cyprian brings in the devil thus speaking to Christ in the +great day of judgment. I have not (saith the devil) been whipped, and +scourged, and crucified, neither have I shed my blood for those whom +Thou seest with me; I do not promise them a kingdom of heaven, and yet +these men have wholly consecrated themselves to me and my service. +Indeed, if the devil could make such gainful covenants with us, and +bestow such glorious mercies upon us as are contained within the +covenant, our serving of Satan and sin might have some excuse. But, +whereas his covenant is a covenant of bondage, death, hell, and +damnation; and God's covenant is a covenant of liberty, grace, and +eternal happiness, it must needs be a sin inexcusable to be willingly +and wilfully such a covenant-breaker. + +2. Let us examine concerning the vows which we have made to God in our +distresses; in our personal distresses, and our national distresses. Are +we not like the children of Israel, of whom it is said, "When He slew +them, then they sought Him, and they returned and inquired early after +God. Nevertheless they did flatter Him with their mouth. For their heart +was not right with Him, neither were they stedfast in His covenant." Are +we not like little children that, while they are being whipped, will +promise any thing; but, when the whipping is over, will perform nothing? +Or like unto iron that is very soft and malleable while it is in the +fire, but, when it is taken out of the fire, returns presently to its +former hardness? This was Jacob's fault: he made a vow when he was in +distress, but he forgot his covenant, and God was angry with him, and +chastised him in his daughter, Dinah, and in his two sons, Simeon and +Levi; and at last God Himself was fain to call him from heaven to keep +covenant; and after that time God blessed Jacob exceedingly. We read of +David, that he professes of himself, "That he would go to God's house, +and pay the vows which his lips uttered, and his mouth had spoken, when +he was in trouble." But, how few are there that imitate David in this +thing. + +3. Let us examine ourselves concerning this Solemn League and Covenant +which we are to renew this day. And here I demand an answer to this +question. Quest. Are we not covenant-breakers? Do we not make the times +perilous by our falsifying of our oath and covenant with God? In our +covenant we swear to six things. + +1. "That we will endeavour to be humbled for our own sins, and for the +sins of the kingdom:" But where shall we find a mourner in England for +his own abominations, and for the abominations that are committed in the +midst of us? It is easy to find a censurer of the sins of the land, but +hard to find a true mourner for the sins of the land. + +2. We swear "that we will endeavour to go before one another in the +example of a real reformation." But who makes conscience of this part of +the oath? What sin hast thou left, or in what one thing hast thou +reformed since thou didst take this covenant? We read, "That they +entered into a covenant to put away their wives and children by them," +which was a very difficult and hard duty, and yet they did it. But what +bosom-sin, what beloved sin, as dear to thee as thy dear wife and +children, hast thou left for God's sake, since thou tookest this oath? I +read, That the people took an oath to make restitution, which was a +costly duty, and yet they performed it. But alas! where is the man that +hath made restitution of his ill-gotten goods since he took this +covenant? I read, that king Asa deposed his mother Maachah, her even, +from being queen, after he had entered into covenant: and that the +people, after they had sworn a covenant, brake in pieces all the altars +of Baal thoroughly. But where is this thorough reformation. We say, we +fight for a reformation, but I fear lest in a little time, we fight away +our reformation. Or, if we fight it not away, yet we should dispute it +away. For all our religion is turned into questions, in so much that +there are some that call all religion into question, and in a little +while will lose all religion in the crowd of questions. There was a time +not many years ago, when God did bless our ministry in the city, to the +conversion of many people unto God; but now there are many that study +more to gain parties to themselves, than to gain souls to God. The great +work of conversion is little thought on, and never so few, if any at +all, converted as in these days wherein we talk so much of reformation. +And is this to keep covenant with God? + +3. We swear "to endeavour to amend our lives, and reform not only +ourselves, but also those that are under our charge." But where is that +family reformation? Indeed I read of Jacob that when he went to perform +his vow and covenant, he first reformed his family. And that Joshua +resolved, and performed it, "for himself and his family to serve the +Lord." And so did Josiah. And oh! that I could add, And so do we. But +the wickedness committed in our families proclaims the contrary to all +the world. What noblemen, what aldermen, what merchants, families, are +more reformed since the covenant than before? We speak and contend much +for a church-reformation, but how can there be a church-reformation, +unless there be a family-reformation? What though the church-worship be +pure, yet if the worshippers be impure, God will not accept of the +worship? And if families be not reformed, how will your worshippers be +pure? + +4. We swear to endeavour "to bring the churches of God in the three +kingdoms to the nearest uniformity in religion confession of faith, form +of church government, directory for worship, and catechising." But are +there not some that write against an uniformity in religion, and call it +an idol? Are there not many that walk professedly contrary to this +clause of the covenant? There are three texts of scripture that people +keep quite the contrary way. The first is, "Take no thought what ye +shall eat; take no thought for to-morrow." And most people take thought +for nothing else. The second is, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and +His righteousness;" and most people seek this last of all. The third +text is, "Labour not for the meat that perisheth, but for the meat that +endureth for ever;" and most people labour not for the meat that +endureth for ever, but for the meat that perisheth. As these three texts +are kept, so do many people keep this part of the oath; for there were +never more divisions and differences in the church, never more +deformity, and pleading against uniformity, than now there is. + +5. We swear "to endeavour the extirpation of popery, prelacy, +superstition, heresy, and schism." And yet, notwithstanding, there are +some that have taken the oath that contend earnestly for a toleration of +all religions. + +6. We swear "against a detestable indifferency and neutrality in this +cause, which so much concerneth the glory of God." And yet how many are +there amongst us like unto Gallio, that care not what becomes of the +cause of God, so they may have peace and quiet? That will not be the +backwardest of all, and yet will be sure not to be too forward; for fear +lest, if the times turn, they should be noted amongst the chief of the +faction? That are very indifferent which side prevail, so they may have +their trading again? That say as the politicians say, That they would be +careful not to come too near the heels of religion, lest it should dash +out their brains: and as the king of Arragon told Beza, That he would +wade no further into the sea of religion, than he could safely return to +shore. In all these six particulars, let us seriously search and try our +hearts, whether we be not among the number of those that make the times +perilous. + +The third use is for humiliation. Let the consideration of our +covenant-breaking be a heart-breaking consideration to every one of us +this day: let this be a mighty and powerful argument to humble us upon +this day of humiliation. There are five considerations that are +exceedingly soul-humbling, if God bless them to us. + +1. The consideration of the many commandments of God, that we have often +and often broken. 2. The consideration of the breaking of Jesus Christ +for our sins, how He was rent and torn for our iniquities. 3. The +consideration of the breaking of the bread, and pouring out of the wine +in the sacrament, which is a heart-breaking motive and help. 4. The +broken condition that the kingdoms of England, Scotland, Ireland, and +Germany, are in at this time. 5. The many vows and covenants that we +have broken; our sacrament-covenants, our fasting-covenants, our +sick-bed covenants; and especially the consideration of our often +breaking our national covenant, which you come this day to renew. This +is a sin in folio, a sin of a high nature: and if ever God awaken our +conscience in this life, a sin that will lie like a heavy _incubus_ upon +it. A greater sin than to sin against a commandment, or against an +ordinance. A sin not only of disobedience, but of perjury; a sin of +injustice, of spiritual adultery, a sin of sacrilege, a sin of great +unkindness, a sin that not only makes us disobedient, but dishonest; for +we account him a dishonest man, that keeps not his word. A sin that not +only every good Christian, but every good heathen doth abhor; a sin that +not only brings damnation upon us, but casteth such an horrible disgrace +and reproach upon God, that it cannot stand with God's honour not to be +avenged of a covenant-breaker. Tertullian saith, "That when a Christian +forsakes his covenant, and the colours of Christ, and turns to serve as +the devil's soldier, he puts an unspeakable discredit upon God and +Christ." For it is as much as if he should say, "I like the service of +the devil better than the service of God." And it is just as if a +soldier that hath waged war under a captain, and afterwards forsakes +him, and turns to another; and after that, leaves this other captain, +and turns to his former captain. This is to prefer the first captain +before the second. This makes God complain, "What iniquity have your +fathers found in Me, that they have gone far from Me?" And, "Hath any +nation changed their god, which yet are no gods? But My people have +changed their glory for that which doth not profit." Basil brings in the +devil insulting over Christ, and saying, "I never created nor redeemed +these men, and yet they have obeyed me and contemned Thee, O Christ, +even after they have covenanted to be Thine." And then he adds, "I +esteem this honouring of the devil over Jesus Christ at the great day, +to be more grievous to a true saint than all the torments in hell." A +saying worthy to be written in letters of gold. Seeing then that +covenant-breaking is so great an abomination, the Lord give us hearts to +be humbled for this great abomination this day. And this will be a +notable preparation to fit you for the renewing of your covenant. For we +read, that Nehemiah first called his people to fast before he drew them +unto a covenant: according to which pattern, you are here met to pray +and humble your souls for your former covenant-breaking; and then to +bind yourselves anew unto the Lord our God. As wax, when it is melted, +will receive the impression of a seal, which it will not do before: so +will your hearts, when melted into godly sorrow for our sins, receive +the seal of God abidingly upon them which they will not do when hardened +in sin. + +Is every man that sins against the covenant to be accounted a +covenant-breaker, and a perjured sacrilegious person? By no means. For, +as every failing of a wife doth not break covenant between her and her +husband, but she is to be accounted a wife, till she, by committing +adultery, break the covenant: so, every miscarriage against the covenant +of grace, or against this national covenant doth not denominate us, in a +gospel account, covenant-breakers: but then God accounts us, according +to His gospel, to break covenant when we do not only sin, but commit sin +against the covenant; when we do not only sin out of weakness, but out +of wickedness; when we do not only fail, but fall into sin; when we +forsake and renounce the covenant; when we deal treacherously in the +covenant, and enter into league and covenant with those sins which we +have sworn against; when we walk into anti-covenant paths, and willingly +do contrary to what we swear; then are we perjured, and unjust, and +sacrilegious, and guilty of all those things formerly mentioned. + +The fourth use presents unto you a divine, and therefore a sure project +to make the times happy; and that is, let all covenant-takers labour to +be covenant-keepers. It hath pleased God, to put it in your hearts to +renew your covenant, the same God enabled you to keep covenant. It is +said, "The king made a covenant before the Lord. And he caused all that +were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand to it. And the king +stood by a pillar, and made a covenant before the Lord. And all the +people stood to the covenant." This is your duty, not only to take the +covenant, but to stand to the covenant; and to stand to it maugre all +opposition to the contrary, as we read, "And they entered into a +covenant to seek the Lord God of their fathers. That whosoever would not +seek the Lord God of Israel, should be put to death, whether small or +great, whether man or woman." For it is not the taking, but the keeping +of the covenant, that will make you happy. God is styled, "A God keeping +covenant." O that this might be the honour of this city! That we may say +of it, London is a city keeping covenant with God. Great and many are +the blessings entailed upon covenant-keepers. "Now, therefore, if ye +will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then ye shall be a +peculiar treasure unto Me, above all people: for all the earth is Mine; +and ye shall be unto Me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation." "All +the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep His +covenant." There are three covenants, I shall persuade you in a special +manner to stand to. + +1. The covenant you made with God in baptism. A Christian (saith +Chrysostom) should never step out of doors, or lie down in his bed, or +go into his closet, but he should remember the time when he did renounce +the devil and all his works. Oh, let us not forget that which we ought +always to remember! Let us remember to keep that covenant, as we ever +desire God should remember us in mercy at the great day. + +2. The covenant we make with God in our afflictions. Famous is that +passage of Pliny in one of his epistles, to one that desired rules from +him how to order his life aright; I will (saith he) give you one rule, +which shall be instead of a thousand: That we should persevere to be +such, when we are well, as we promise to be when we are sick. A sentence +never to be forgotten: the Lord help us to live accordingly. + +3. The covenant which you are to take this day. The happiness or misery +of England doth much depend upon the keeping or breaking of this +covenant. If England keep it, England by keeping covenant shall stand +sure. If England break it, God will break England in pieces. If England +slight it, God will slight England. If England forsake it, God will +forsake England, and this shall be written upon the tomb of perishing +England, "Here lieth a nation that hath broken the covenant of their +God." Remember what you have heard this day, that it is the brand of a +reprobate to be a covenant-breaker, and it is the part of a fool to vow +and not to pay his vows. And God hath no delight in the sacrifice of +fools. "Better not to vow, than to vow and not to pay." It is such a +high profanation of God's name, as that God cannot hold a +covenant-breaker guiltless; it is perjury, injustice, spiritual +adultery, sacrilege. And the very lifting up of our hands this day, (if +you do not set heart and hand on work to keep covenant) will be a +sufficient witness against you at the great day. We read "that Jacob and +Laban entered in covenant, and took a heap of stones, and they called +the place Mizpah, the Lord watch between me and thee," and made them a +witness, and said "this heap is a witness." "The God of Abraham judge +betwixt us." Such is your condition this day. You enter into covenant to +become the Lord's, and to be valiant for His truth, and against His +enemies, and the very stones of this church shall be witness against +you, if you break covenant; the name of this place may lie called +Mizpah. The Lord will watch over you for good, if you keep it, and for +evil if you break it; and all the curses contained in the book of the +covenant shall light upon a willing covenant-breaker. The Lord fasten +these meditations and soul-awakening considerations upon your hearts. +The Lord give you grace to keep close to the covenant and a good +conscience, which are both lost by breaking covenant. + +There are four things I shall persuade you unto in pursuance of your +covenant. 1. To be humbled for your own sins, and for the sins of the +kingdom; and more especially, because we have not, as we ought, valued +the inestimable benefit of the gospel, that we have not laboured to +receive Christ in our hearts, nor to walk worthy of Him in our lives, +which are the causes of other sins and transgressions so much abounding +amongst us. Gospel sins are greater than legal sins, and will bring +gospel curses, which are greater than legal curses. And therefore let us +be humbled according to our covenant, for all our gospel abominations. +2. You must be ambitious to go before one another in an example of real +reformation. You must swear vainly no more, be drunk no more, break the +Sabbath no more. You must remember what David says. "But unto the wicked +God saith, What hast thou to do to take My covenant in thy mouth? Seeing +thou hatest instruction, and castest My words behind thee." To sin +willingly, after we have sworn not to sin, is not only to sin against a +commandment, but to sin against an oath, which is a double iniquity, and +will procure a double damnation. And he that takes a covenant to reform, +and yet continueth unreformed, his covenant will be unto him as the +bitter water of jealousy was to the woman guilty of adultery, which made +her belly to swell, and thigh to rot. 3. You must be careful to reform +your families, according to your covenant, and the example of Jacob and +Joshua, and the godly kings fore-mentioned. 4. You must endeavour, +according to your places and callings, to bring the churches of God in +the three kingdoms to the nearest conjunction, and uniformity in +religion. O blessed unity! how comes it to pass, that thou art so much +slighted and contemned? Was not unity one of the chief parts of Christ's +prayer unto His Father, when He was here upon the earth? Is not unity +amongst Christians one of the strongest arguments to persuade the world +to believe in Christ? Is it not the chief desire of the holy apostles, +that we "should all speak the same things, and that there should be no +division amongst us?" Is not unity the happiness of heaven? Is it not +the happiness of a city, to be at unity with itself? "Is it not a good +and pleasant thing for brethren to dwell together in unity?" How comes +it to pass then that this part of the covenant is so much forgotten? The +Lord mind you of it this day; and the Lord make this great and famous +city, a city of holiness, and a city of unity within itself: for if +unity be destroyed, purity will quickly also be destroyed. The church of +God is _Una_, as well as _Sancta_; it is but one church, as well as it +is a holy church. And "Jesus Christ gave some to be apostles, etc. till +we all come to the unity of the faith." The government of Christ is +appointed for keeping the church in unity, as well as purity. These +things which God hath joined together, let no man put asunder. That +government which doth not promote unity as well as purity, is not the +government of Christ. Oh, the misery of the kingdom where church +divisions are nourished and fomented! A kingdom or church against +itself, cannot stand. Would it not be a sad thing, to see twelve in a +family, and one of them a Presbyterian, another an Independent, another +a Brownist, another an Antimonian, another an Anabaptist, another a +Familist, another for Prelatical government, another a Seeker, another a +Papist, and the tenth, it may be, an Atheist, and the eleventh a Jew, +and the twelfth a Turk? The Lord in His due time heal our divisions, and +make you His choice of instruments, according to your places, that the +Lord may be one, and His name one in the three kingdoms. + +_Quest._ But some will say, "How shall I do to get up my heart to this +high pitch, that I may be a covenant-keeper?" I will propound these +three helps. 1. Labour to be always mindful of your covenant, according +to that text, "God is always mindful of His covenant." It was the great +sin of the people of Israel, that they were unmindful of the covenant. +They first forgot the covenant, and afterwards did quickly forsake it. +He that forgets the covenant, must needs be a covenant-breaker. Let us +therefore remember it, and carry it about us as _quotidianum +argumentum_, and _quotidianum munimentum_. 1. Let us make the covenant a +daily argument against all sin and iniquity; and when we are tempted to +any sin, let us say, "I have sworn to forsake my old iniquity, and, if I +commit this sin, I am not only a commandment-breaker, but an +oath-breaker. I am perjured. I have sworn to reform my family, and +therefore I will not suffer a wicked person to tarry in my family; I +have sworn against neutrality and indifferency, and therefore I will be +zealous in God's cause." 2. Let us make this covenant a daily muniment +and armour of defence, to beat back all the fiery darts of the devil: +when any one tempts thee by promise of preferment to do contrary to thy +covenant, or threatens to ruin thee for the hearty pursuing of thy +covenant, here is a ready answer, "I am sworn to do what I do, and, if I +do otherwise, I am a perjured wretch." This is a wall of brass, to +resist any dart that shall be shot against thee for well-doing, +according to thy covenant. Famous is the story of Hannibal, which he +told king Antiochus, when he required aid of him against the Romans, +"When I was nine years old (saith he) my father carried me to the altar, +and made me take an oath to be an irreconcilable foe to the Romans. In +pursuance of this oath, I have waged war against them thirty-six years. +To keep this oath, I have left my country, and am come to seek aid at +your hands, which, if you deny, I will travel all over the world, to +find out some enemies to the Roman state." If an oath did so mightily +operate in Hannibal; let the oath you are to take this day work as +powerfully upon you; and make your oath an argument to oppose +personal-sins and family sins, and to oppose heresy, schism, and all +profaneness; and to endeavour to bring the church of God in the three +kingdoms to the nearest conjunction and uniformity. And let this oath be +armour-proof against all temptations to the contrary. And know this one +thing, that if the covenant be not a daily argument and muniment against +sin, it will become, upon your breaking of it, a daily witness against +you, as the book of the law was, and an "everlasting shame and +reproach" unto you and yours. 2. Let us have high thoughts of the +covenant. Actions and affections follow our apprehensions. If thy +judgment be belepered with a corrupt opinion about the covenant, thy +affections and actions will quickly be belepered also: and therefore you +ought to endeavour, according to your places, that nothing be spoken or +written that may tend to the prejudice of the covenant. 3. You must take +heed of the cursed sin of self-love, which is placed in the forefront, +as the cause of all the catalogue of sins here named; "Because men are +lovers of themselves, therefore they are covetous," etc., and therefore +they are covenant-breakers. A self-seeker cannot but be a +covenant-breaker: this is a sin you must hate as the very gates of hell. + +And this is the second sin I promised in the beginning of my sermon to +speak on: but the time, and your other occasions will not permit. There +is a natural self-love, and a divine self-love, and a sinful self-love. +This sinful self-love is, when we make ourselves the last end of all our +actions, when we so love ourselves, as to love no man but ourselves, +according to the proverb, "Every man for himself." When we pretend God +and His glory, and the common good, but intend ourselves, and our own +private gain and interest; when we serve God upon politic designs. Where +this sinful self-love dwells, there dwells no love to God, no love to +thy brother, no love to church or state. This sinful self-love is the +caterpillar that destroyeth church and commonwealth. It is from this +sinful self-love that the public affairs drive on so heavily, and that +church-government is not settled, and that our covenant is so much +neglected. Of this sin, I cannot now speak; but, when God shall offer +opportunity, I shall endeavour to uncase it you. In the meantime, the +Lord give you grace to hate it as hell itself. + + + + +THE NATIONAL COVENANTS. + + + + + +[Illustration: Fac-simile of old Title page of following Ceremony.] + +THE + +FORM and ORDER + +OF THE + +CORONATION + +OF + +CHARLES II. + +King of _SCOTLAND_, _ENGLAND_, _FRANCE_, and _IRELAND_. + +As it was acted and done at _SCOON_, the First Day of _January_, 1651. + +By the Reverend Mr. Robert Douglas, Minister at _Edinburgh_, and one of +the Members of the _Westminster_ Assembly of _Divines_. + +1 Chron. xxix. 23. _Then_ Solomon _sat on the Throne of the Lord as King, +in stead of_ David _his Father, and prospered, and all_ Israel _obeyed +him._ + +Prov. xx. 8. _A King that sitteth in the Throne of Judgment, scattereth +away all Evil with his Eyes._ + +Prov. xxv. 5. _Take away the Wicked from before the King, and his Throne +shall be established in Righteousness._ + +GLASGOW +Printed for George Paton, and are to be Sold at his Shop in _Linlithgow_, +and other Booksellers in Town and Country. 1741. + + +THE NATIONAL COVENANTS + +CORONATION SERMON AT SCONE.[15] + +_BY ROBERT DOUGLAS._ + + +And he brought forth the king's son, and put the crown upon him; and +gave him the testimony, and they made him king and anointed him, and +they clapped their hands, and said, God save the king. + +And Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord, and the king, and the +people, that they should he the Lord's people; between the king also, +and the people.--_2 Kings_ xi, 12, 17. + +In this text of Scripture you have the solemn enthronizing of Joash, a +young king, and that in a very troublesome time; for Athaliah, the +mother of Ahaziah, had cruelly murdered the royal seed, and usurped the +kingdom by the space of six years. Only this young prince was preserved +by Jehosheba, the sister of Ahaziah, and wife to Jehoiada, the high +priest, being hid with her in the house of the Lord, all that time. + +Good interpreters do conjecture, though Joash be called the son of +Ahaziah, that he was not his son by nature, but by succession to the +crown. They say, that the race of Solomon ceased here, and the kingdom +came to the posterity of Nathan, the son of David, because, 'tis said, +"the house of Ahaziah had no power to keep still the kingdom;" which +they conceive to be for the want of children in that house, and because +of the absurdity and unnaturalness of the fact, that Athaliah, the +grandmother, should have cut off her son's children. I shall not stand +on the matter, only I may say, if they were Ahaziah's own children, it +was a most unnatural and cruel act for Athaliah to cut off her own +posterity. + +For the usurpation, there might have been two motives. _First_, It +seemeth when Ahaziah went to battle, Athaliah was left to govern the +kingdom, and, her son Ahaziah being slain before his return, she thought +the government sweet, and could not part with it, and because the royal +seed stood in her way, she cruelly destroyed them, that she might reign +with the greater freedom. _Secondly_, She was earnest to set up a false +worship, even the worship of Baal, which she thought could not be so +well done, as by cutting off the royal race, and getting the sole power +in her hand, that she might do what she pleased. + +The business you are about this day, is not unlike: you are to invest a +young king in the throne, in a very troublesome time, and wicked men +have risen up and usurped the kingdom, and put to death the late king +most unnaturally. The like motives seemed to have prevailed with them. +_First_, These men by falsehood and dissimulation, have gotten power in +their hands, which to them is so sweet, that they are unwilling to part +with it; and because the king and his seed stood in their way, they have +made away the king, and disinherited his children, that the sole power +might be in their hand. _Secondly_, They have a number of damnable +errors, and a false worship to set up, and intend to take away the +ordinances of Christ, and government of His kirk: all this cannot be +done, unless they have the sole power in their hands, and this they +cannot have until the king and his posterity be cut off. But I leave +this, and come to the present solemnity; there's a prince to be +enthroned, good Jehoiada will have the crown put upon his head. + +It may be questioned why they went about this coronation in a time of so +great hazard, when Athaliah had reigned six years. Had it not been +better to have defeated Athaliah, and then to have crowned the king? Two +reasons may be rendered why they delay the coronation. (1) To crown the +king was a duty they were bound to. Hazard should not make men leave +their duty; they did their duty, and left the success to God. (2) They +crowned the young king, to endear the people's affections to their own +native prince, and to alienate their hearts from her that had usurped +the kingdom. If they had delayed (the king being known to be preserved), +it might have brought on not only compliance with her, but also +subjection to her government, by resting in it, and being content to lay +aside the righteous heir of the crown. + +The same is observed in our case; and many wonder that you should crown +the king in a dangerous time, when the usurpers have such power in the +land. The same reasons may serve to answer for your doing. (1) It is our +necessary duty to crown the king upon all hazards, and to leave the +success to God. (2) It appeareth now it hath been too long delayed. +Delay is dangerous, because of the compliance of some, and treachery of +others. If it shall be delayed longer, it is to be feared that the most +part shall sit down under the shadow of the bramble, the destroying +usurpers. + +I come to the particular handling of the present text: and, to speak +from it to the present time, I have read the twelfth and seventeenth +verses, because of these two which meet together in the crowning of a +king, and his renewing the covenant. Amongst many particulars which may +be handled from this text, I shall confine myself to these five, 1. The +crown, "He put the crown upon his head." 2. The testimony, "He gave him +the testimony." 3. The anointing, "They anointed him." These three are +in the twelfth verse. As for that which is spoken of the people's joy, +we shall give it a touch when we come to the people's duty. 4. The +covenant between God and king and the people; "Jehoiada made a covenant +between God and the king and the people, that they should be the Lord's +people." 5. The covenant between the king and the people; "between the +king also and the people." + +I. The First thing is the crown is put upon his head. A crown is the +most excellent badge of royal majesty. To discourse on crowns in a state +way, I shall leave unto statesmen, and lay only these three before you +of the crown. + +I. In putting on of the crown, it should be well fastened, for kings' +crowns are oftentimes tottering, and this is a time wherein they totter. +There are two things which make kings' crowns to totter, great sins, and +great commotions and troubles; take heed of both. + +1. There are many sins upon our king and his family: sin will make the +surest crown that ever men set on to totter. The sins of former kings +have made this a tottering crown. I shall not insist here, seeing there +hath been a solemn day of humiliation thro' the land on Thursday last, +for the sins of the royal family; I wish the Lord may bless it; and +desire the king may be truly humbled for his own sins, and the sins of +his father's house, which have been great; beware of putting on these +sins with the crown; for if you put them on, all the well-wishers to a +king in the three kingdoms will not be able to hold on the crown, and +keep it from tottering, yea, from falling. Lord, take away the +controversy with the royal family, that the crown may be fastened sure +upon the king's head, without falling or tottering. + +2. Troubles and commotions in a kingdom make crowns to totter. A crown +at the best, and in the most calm times, is full of troubles; which, if +it were well weighed by men, there would not be such hunting after +crowns. I read of a great man who, considering the trouble and care that +accompanied the crown, said, "He would not take it up at his foot, +though he might have it for taking." Now, if a crown at the best be so +full of troubles, what shall one think of a crown at the worst, when +there are so great commotions, wherein the crown is directly aimed at? +Surely it must be a tottering crown at the best, especially when former +sins have brought on these troubles. As the remedy of the former is true +humiliation, and turning unto God; so the remedy of the latter, speaking +of David's crown, "Thou settest a crown of pure gold upon his head." God +set on David's crown, and therefore it was settled, notwithstanding of +many troubles. Men may set on crowns, and they may throw them off again; +but when God setteth them on, they will be fast. Enemies have touched +the crown of our king, and cast it off in the other kingdom, and have +made it totter in this kingdom. Both the king who is to be crowned, and +you who are to crown him, should deal earnestly with God, to set the +crown on the king's head, and to keep it on against all the commotions +of this cruel generation. + +II. A king should esteem more of the people he reigneth over, than of +his crown. Kings used to be so taken up with their crowns, that they +despise their people. I would have a king following Christ the King of +His people, who saith of them, "Thou shalt be a crown of glory in the +hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God." Christ +accounteth His people, His crown and diadem; so should a king esteem the +people of the Lord, over whom he ruleth, to be his crown and diadem. +Take away the people, and a crown is but an empty symbol. + +III. A king, when he getteth the crown on his head, should think, at +the best it is but a fading crown. All the crowns of kings are but +fading crowns: therefore they should have an eye upon that "crown of +glory that fadeth not away." And upon a "kingdom that cannot be shaken." +That crown and kingdom belongeth not to kings as kings, but unto +believers; and a believing king hath this comfort, that when "he hath +endured a while, and been tried, he shall receive the crown of life, +which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him." + +II. The Second thing in this solemnity is the testimony. By this is +meant the law of God, so called, because it testifieth of the mind and +will of God. It was commanded, "When the king shall sit upon the throne +of his kingdom, he shall write him a copy of this law in a book, and it +shall be with him, that he may read therein all the days of his life." +The king should have the testimony for these three uses. 1. For his +information in the ways of God. This use of the king's having "the book +of the law" is expressed, "That he may learn to fear the Lord his God." +The reading of other books may do a king good for government, but no +book will teach him the way to salvation, but the book of God. Christ +biddeth "search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal +life, and they testify of Me." He is a blessed man, "who meditateth in +the law of the Lord day and night." King David was well acquainted +herewith. Kings should be well exercised in scripture. It is reported of +Alphonsus, king of Arragon, that he read the Bible fourteen times with +glosses thereupon. I recommend to the king to take some hours for +reading the Holy Scriptures; it will be a good means to make him +acquainted with God's mind, and with Christ as Saviour. 2. For his +direction in government. Kings read books that may teach them to govern +well, but all the books a king can read will not make him govern to +please God, as this book. I know nothing that is good in government, but +a king may learn it out of the book of God. For this cause, Joshua is +commanded "that the book of the law shall not depart out of his mouth;" +and he is commanded "to do according to all that is written therein." He +should not only do himself that which is written in it, but do, and +govern his people according to all that is written in it. King David +knew this use of the testimony, who said, "Thy testimonies are my +delight, and my counsellors." The best counsels that ever a king getteth +are in the book of God: yea, the testimonies are the best and surest +counsellors; because altho' a king's counsellors be never so wise and +trusty, yet they are not so free with a king as they ought: but the +scriptures tell kings very freely, both their sins and their duty. 3. +For preservation and custody. The king is _custos utriusque tabulae_, +the keeper of both tables. Not that he should take upon him the power, +either to dispense the word of God, or to dispense with it: but that he +should preserve the word of God and true religion, according to the word +of God, pure, entire, and uncorrupted, within his dominions, and +transmit them so to posterity; and also be careful to see his subjects +observe both tables, and to punish the transgressors of the same. + +III. The Third thing in this solemnity is the "anointing of the king." +The anointing of kings was not absolutely necessary under the Old +Testament, for we read not that all the kings of Judah and Israel were +anointed. The Hebrews observe that anointing of kings was used in three +cases. 1. When the first of a family was made king, as Saul, David. 2. +When there was a question for the crown, as in case of Solomon and +Adonijah. 3. When there was an interruption of the lawful succession by +usurpation as in the case of Joash. There is an interruption, by the +usurpation of Athaliah, therefore he is anointed. If this observation +hold, as it is probable, then it was not absolutely necessary under the +Old Testament; and therefore far less under the New. + +Because it may be said that in our case there is an interruption by +usurpation, let it be considered that the anointing under the Old +Testament was typical; although all kings were not types of Christ, yet +the anointing of kings, priests and prophets, was typical of Christ, and +His offices; but, Christ being now come, all those ceremonies cease: +and, therefore, the anointing of kings ought not to be used in the New +Testament. + +If it be said, anointing of kings hath been in use amongst christians, +not only papist but protestant, as in the kingdom of England, and our +late king was anointed with oil, it may be replied, they who used it +under the New Testament took it from the Jews without warrant. It was +most in use with the bishops of Rome, who, to keep kings and emperors +subject to themselves did swear them to the Pope when they were +anointed, (and yet the Jewish priests did never swear kings to +themselves.) As for England, although the Pope was cast off, yet the +subjection of kings to bishops was still retained, for they anointed the +king and swore him to the maintenance of their prelatical dignity. They +are here who were witnesses at the coronation of the late king; the +bishops behoved to perform that rite; and the king behoved to be sworn +to them. But now by the blessing of God, popery and prelacy are removed: +the bishops as limbs of Antichrist are put to the door; let the +anointing of kings with oil go to the door with them, and let them never +come in again. + +The anointing with material oil maketh not a king the anointed of the +Lord, for he is so without it; he is the anointed of the Lord who, by +divine ordinance and appointment is a king. God called Cyrus His +anointed; yet we read not that he was anointed with oil. Kings are +anointed of the Lord, because, by the ordinance of the Lord, their +authority is sacred and inviolable. It is enough for us to have the +thing, tho' we want the ceremony, which being laid aside, I will give +some observations of the thing. + +1. A king, being the Lord's anointed, should be thinking upon a better +unction, even that spiritual unction wherewith believers are anointed. +"The anointing ye have received of Him abideth in you." And "He that +hath anointed us, is God, who hath also sealed us." This anointing is +not proper to kings, but common to believers: few kings are so anointed. +A king should strive to be a good Christian, and then a good king: the +anointing with grace is better than the anointing with oil. It is of +more worth for a king to be the anointed of the Lord with grace, than to +be the greatest monarch of the world without it. + +2. This anointing may put a king in mind of the gifts, wherewith kings +should be endowed, for discharge of their royal calling. For anointing +did signify the gifts of office. It is said of Saul, when he was +anointed king; "God gave him another heart." And "The Spirit of God came +upon him." It is meant of a heart for his calling, and a spirit of +ability for government. It should be our desire this day, that our king +may have a spirit for his calling; as the spirit of wisdom, fortitude, +justice and other princely endowments. + +3. This anointing may put subjects in mind of the sacred dues of the +authority of a king. He should be respected as the Lord's anointed. +There are diverse sorts of persons that are enemies to the authority of +kings; as 1. Anabaptists, who deny there should be kings in the New +Testament: they would have no kings nor civil magistrates. 2. The late +Photinians, who speak respectfully of kings and magistrates, but they +take away from them their power, and the exercise of it in the +administration of justice. 3. Those who rise against kings in open +rebellion, as Absalom and Sheba, who said, "What have we to do with +David, the son of Jesse? To your tents, O Israel." 4. They who do not +rebel openly, yet they despise a king in their heart, like these sons of +Belial, who said of Saul, after he was anointed king, "Shall this man +save us? And they despised him, and brought him no presents." All these +meet in our present age. 1. Anabaptists, who are against the being of +kings, are very rife. You may find, to our great grief, a great number +of them in that army, that hath unjustly invaded the land, who have +trampled upon the authority of kings. 2. These are also of the second +sort, who are secretly Photinians in this point, they allow of kings in +profession; but they are against the exercise of their power in the +administration of justice. 3. A third sort are in open rebellion, even +all that generation which are risen up not only against the person of a +king, but against kingly government. 4. There is a fourth, who profess +they acknowledge a king; but despise him in their heart, saying "Shall +this man save us?" I wish all had David's tenderness, whose heart did +smite him, when he did but cut off the lap of Saul's garment, that we +may be far from cutting off a lap of the just power and greatness which +God hath allowed to the king, and we have bound ourselves by covenant +not to diminish. + +I have gone through the three particulars contained in verse 12. I come +to the other two, in verse 17, which appertain also to this day's work; +for our king is not only to be crowned, but to renew a covenant with +God, and His people; and to make a covenant with the people. Answerable +hereto, there is a twofold covenant in the words, one between God, and +the king, and the people: God being the one party, the king and the +people, the other; another between the king and the people, the king +being the one party, and the people the other. + +The covenant with God is the fourth particular propounded, to be spoken +of. The sum of this covenant, ye may find in Josiah's renewing the +covenant, "to walk after the Lord, and keep His commandments and +testimonies, with all the heart, and to perform the words of the +covenant." The renewing of the covenant was after a great defection +from God, and the setting up of a false worship. The king and the +people of God bound themselves before the Lord, to set up the true +worship, and to abolish the false. Scotland hath a preference in this +before other nations. In time of defection, they have renewed a covenant +with God, to reform all; and because the king, after a great defection +in the families, is to renew the covenant, I shall mention some +particulars from the league and covenant. + +1. We are bound to maintain the true reformed religion, in doctrine, +worship, discipline, and government, established in this kingdom, and to +endeavour the reformation of religion in the other two kingdoms, +according to the word of God, and the example of the best reformed +kirks. By this article, the king is obliged, not only to maintain +religion as it was established in Scotland, but also to endeavour the +reformation of religion in his other kingdoms. The king would consider +well, when it shall please God, to restore him to his government there, +that he is bound to endeavour the establishment of the work of +reformation there, as well as to maintain it here. + +2. According to the second article, the king is bound without respect of +persons, to extirpate popery, prelacy, superstition, heresy, schism, and +profaneness, and whatsoever shall be found contrary to sound doctrine, +and the power of godliness. And therefore popery is not to be suffered +in the royal family, nor within his dominions; prelacy once plucked up +by the root, is not to be permitted to take root again; all heresy and +error whatsoever must be opposed by him, to the uttermost of his power; +and by the covenant, the king must be far from toleration of any false +religion within his dominions. + +3. As the people are bound to maintain the king's person and authority, +in the maintenance of the true religion, and liberties of the kingdom: +so the king is bound with them, to maintain the rights and privileges of +the parliament and the liberties of the subjects, according to the +third article. + +4. We are bound to discover, and to bring unto condign punishment, all +such as have been, or shall be, incendiaries, malignants, or evil +instruments, in hindering the reformation of religion; dividing the king +from the people, or one of the kingdoms from another, or making any +faction, or parties amongst the people. Hereby the king is bound to have +an eye upon such, and neither allow of them nor comply with them; but to +concur according to his power, to have them censured and punished, as is +expressed in the fourth article. + +I shall sum up all in this, that a king, in entering into covenant with +God, should do as kings did of old, when they entered in covenant; they +and their people went on in the work of reformation, as appeareth here. +"And all the people of the land went into the house of Baal, and brake +it down," &c. And godly Josiah, when he entered in covenant, made a +thorough reformation. There is a fourfold reformation in scripture, and +contained in the league and covenant. 1. A personal reformation. 2. A +family reformation. 3. A reformation of judicatories. 4. A reformation +of the whole land. Kings have had their hand in all the four; and +therefore I recommend them to our king. + +1. A personal reformation. A king should reform his own life, that he +may be a pattern of godliness to others; and to this he is tied by the +covenant. The godly reformers of Judah were pious and religious men. A +king should not follow Machiavelli's counsel, who requireth not that a +prince should be truly religious, but saith, "that a shadow of it, and +external simulation, are sufficient." A devilish counsel; and it is just +with God to bring a king to the shadow of a kingdom, who hath but the +shadow of religion. We know that dissembling kings have been punished of +God; and let our king know that no king but a religious king, can please +God. David is highly commended for godliness; Hezekiah a man eminent +for piety; Josiah, a young king, commended for the tenderness of his +heart, when he heard the law of the Lord read; he was much troubled +before the Lord, when he heard the judgments threatened against his +father's house, and his people. It is earnestly wished that our king's +heart may be tender and truly humbled before the Lord, for the sins of +his father's house, and of the land; and for the many evils that are +upon that family, and upon the kingdom. + +2. A family reformation. The king should reform his family, after the +example of godly kings. Asa, when he entered in covenant, spared not his +mother's idolatry. The house of our king hath been much defiled by +idolatry. The king is now in covenant, and to renew the covenant, let +the royal family be reformed; and, that it may be a religious family, +wherein God will have pleasure, let it be purged, not only of idolatry, +but of profanity and looseness, which hath abounded in it. Much hath +been spoken of this matter; but little hath been done in it. Let the +king and others, who have charge in that family, think it lieth upon +them, as a duty, to purge it. And if ye would have a family well purged, +and constitute, take David for a pattern, in the purgation and +constitution of his, "The froward heart, wicked persons, and slanderers, +he will have far from him: but his eyes are upon the faithful of the +land, that they may dwell with him." If there be a man better than +another in the land, he should be for the king, and his family: ye may +extend his reformation to the court. A profane court is dangerous for a +king. It hath been observed as a provoking sin in England, which hath +drawn down judgment upon king and court, as appeareth this day. It is to +be wished that such were in the court, as David speaketh of in that +psalm. Let the king see to it, and resolve with David, "That he who +worketh deceit, shall not dwell within his house: and he who telleth +lies, shall not tarry in his sight." + +3. Reformation in judicatories. It should be carefully seen to, that +judicatories be reformed; and that men, fearing God and hating +covetousness, may be placed in them. A king in covenant, should do as +Jehoshaphat did. "He set judges in the land, and said, take heed what ye +do; ye judge not for men, but for the Lord, who is with you in judgment: +wherefore now, let the fear of the Lord be before you." + +4. The reformation of the whole land, the king's eye should be upon it. +"Jehoshaphat went out through the people, from Beersheba to mount +Ephraim; and brought them back to the Lord God of their fathers." Our +land hath great need of reformation; for there is a part of it that hath +scarce ever yet found the benefit of reformation, they are lying without +the gospel. It will be a good work for a covenanted king, to have a care +that the gospel may be preached through the whole land. Care also should +be taken, that they who have the gospel may live suitably thereto. If a +king would be a thorough reformer, he must be reformed himself, +otherwise he will never lay reformation to heart. To make a king a good +reformer, I wish him these qualifications, according to the truth and in +sincerity, wherewith they report Trajan the emperor to have been endued; +he was, 1. Devout at home. 2 Courageous in war. 3. Just in his +judicatures. 4. Prudent in all his affairs. True piety, fortitude, +justice and prudence, are notable qualifications in a prince who would +reform a kingdom, and reform well. + +I come now to the fifth and last particular; and that is the covenant +made between the king and the people: when a king is crowned and +received by the people, there is a covenant or mutual contract between +him and them, containing conditions, mutually to be observed: time will +not suffer to insist upon many particulars. I shall only lay before you +these three particulars. 1. It is clear from this covenant, that a king +hath not absolute power to do what he pleaseth: he is tied to conditions +by virtue of a covenant. 2. It is clear from this covenant, that a +people are bound to obey their king in the Lord. 3. I shall present the +king with some directions for the right government of the people who are +bound to obey. + +1. It is clear, that the king's power is not absolute, as kings and +flattering courtiers apprehend; a king's power is a limited power by +this covenant; and there is a threefold limitation of the king's power. +1. In regard of subordination. There is power above his, even God's +power, whom he is obliged to obey; and to whom he must give an account +of his administration, (and yesterday ye heard that text, "by Me kings +reign.") Kings have not only their crowns from God, but they must reign +according to His will. He is called the "Minister of God;" he is but +God's servant. I need not stay upon this; kings and all others will +acknowledge this limitation. 2. In regard of laws, a king is sworn at +his coronation, to rule according to the standing received laws of the +kingdom. The laws he is sworn to, limit him that he cannot do against +them, without a sinful breach of this covenant between the king and the +people. 3. In regard of government, the total government is not upon a +king. He hath counsellors as a parliament or estates in the land, who +share in the burden of government. No king should have the sole +government: it was never the mind of those who received a king to rule +them, to lay all government upon him, to do what he pleaseth, without +controlment. There is no man able alone to govern all. The kingdom +should not lay that upon one man, who may easily miscarry. The estates +of the land are bound in this contract to bear the burden with him. + +These men who have flattered kings to take unto themselves an absolute +power, to do what they please, have wronged kings and kingdoms. It had +been good that kings, of late, had carried themselves so, as this +question of the king's power might never have come in debate; for they +have been great losers thereby. Kings are very desirous to have things +spoken and written, to hold up their arbitrary and unlimited power; but +that way doth exceedingly wrong them. There is one, a learned man, I +confess, who hath written a book for the maintenance of the absolute +power of kings, called _Defensio Regis_, whereby he hath wronged himself +in his reputation, and the king in his government. As for the fact, in +taking away the life of the late king, (whatever was God's justice in +it) I do agree with him to condemn it, as a most unjust and horrid act, +upon their part who did it: but when he cometh to speak of the power of +kings, in giving unto them an absolute and unlimited power, urging the +damnable maxim, _quod libet licet_, he will have a king to do what he +pleaseth, _impune_, and without controlment. In this, I cannot but +dissent from him. + +In regard of subordination some say, that a king is accountable to none +but God. Do what he will, let God take order with it; this leadeth kings +to atheism, let them do what they please, and to take God in their own +hand: in regard of laws, they teach nothing to kings but tyranny: and in +regard of government, they teach a king to take an arbitrary power to +himself, to do what he pleaseth without controlment. How dangerous this +hath been to kings, is clear by sad experience. Abuse of power and +arbitrary government, hath been one of God's great controversies with +our king's predecessors. God in His justice, because power hath been +abused, hath thrown it out of their hands: and I may confidently say +that God's controversy with the kings of the earth is for their +arbitrary and tyrannical government. + +It is good for our king to learn to be wise in time, and know that he +receiveth this day a power to govern, but a power limited by contract; +and these conditions he is bound by oath to stand to. Kings are deceived +who think that the people are ordained for the king; and not the king +for the people; the Scripture sheweth the contrary. The king is the +"minister of God for the people's good." God will not have a king, in +an arbitrary way, to encroach upon the possessions of subjects, "A +portion is appointed for the prince." And it is said, "My princes shall +no more oppress My people; and the rest of the land, shall they give +unto the house of Israel, according to their tribes." The king hath his +distinct possessions and revenues from the people; he must not oppress +and do what he pleaseth, there must be no tyranny upon the throne. + +I desire not to speak much upon this subject. Men have been very tender +in meddling with the power of kings; yet, seeing these days have brought +forth debates concerning the power of kings, it will be necessary to be +clear in this matter. Extremities would be shunned. A king should keep +within the bounds of the covenant made with the people, in the exercise +of his power; and subjects should keep within the bounds of this +covenant, in regulating that power. Concerning the last, I shall +propound these three to your consideration. + +1. A king, abusing his power to the overthrow of religion, laws and +liberties, which are the very fundamentals of this contract and +covenant, may be controlled and opposed; and if he set himself to +overthrow all these by arms, then they who have power, as the estates of +a land, may and ought to resist by arms: because he doth, by that +opposition, break the very bonds, and overthroweth all the essentials of +this contract and covenant. This may serve to justify the proceedings of +this kingdom against the late king, who, in an hostile way, set himself +to overthrow religion, parliaments, laws and liberties. + +2. Every breach of covenant, wherein a king falleth, after he hath +entered into covenant, doth not dissolve the bond of the covenant. +Neither should subjects lay aside a king for every breach, except the +breaches be such as overthrow the fundamentals of religion, and of the +covenant with the people. Many examples of this may be brought from +scripture. I shall give but one. King Asa entered solemnly into +covenant with God and the people. After that, he falleth in gross +transgressions and breaches. He associated himself and entered into +league with Benhadad, king of Syria, an idolater; he imprisoned Hanani, +the Lord's prophet, who reproved him, and threatened judgment against +that association, and at that same time he oppressed some of the people: +and yet, for all this, they neither laid him aside, nor accounted him an +hypocrite. + +3. Private persons should be very circumspect about that which they do +in relation to the authority of kings. It is very dangerous for private +men, to meddle with the power of kings, and the suspending them from the +exercise thereof. I do ingenuously confess that I find no example of it. +The prophets taught not such doctrine to their people, nor the apostles, +nor the reformed kirks. Have ever private men, pastors or professors, +given in to the estates of a land as their judgment, unto which they +resolve to adhere, that a king should be suspended from the exercise of +his power? And, if we look upon these godly pastors, who lived in king +James's time, of whom one may truly say, more faithful men lived not in +these last times: for they spared not to tell the king his faults, to +his face: yea, some of them suffered persecution for their honesty and +freedom, yet we never read nor have heard, that any of these godly +pastors joined with other private men, did ever remonstrate to +parliament or estate as their judgment, that the king should be +suspended from the exercise of his royal power. + +II. It is clear from this covenant, that people should obey their king +in the Lord: for, as the king is bound by the covenant to make use of +his power to their good; so, they are bound to obey him in the Lord in +the exercise of that power. About the people's duty to the king, take +these four observations. + +1. That the obedience of the people is in subordination to God; for the +covenant is first with God, and then with the king. If a king command +any thing contrary to the will of God--in this case, Peter saith, "it is +better to obey God, than man." There is a line drawn from God to the +people, they are lowest in the line: and have magistrates inferior and +supreme above them, and God above all. When the king commandeth the +people that which is lawful, and commanded by God, then he should be +obeyed; because he standeth in right line under God, who hath put him in +his place. But if he command that which is unlawful, and forbidden of +God, in that he should not be obeyed to do it; because he is out of his +line. That a king is to be obeyed with this subordination, is evident +from scripture; take one place for all. At the beginning, ye have both +obedience urged to superior powers, as the ordinance of God, and +damnation threatened against those who resist the lawful powers. + +It is said by some, that many ministers in Scotland would not have king +JESUS, but king Charles to reign. Faithful men are wronged by such +speeches. I do not understand these men. For, if they think that a king +and JESUS are inconsistent, then they will have no king: but I shall be +far from entertaining such thoughts of them. If they think the doing a +necessary duty for king Charles is to prefer his interest to Christ's, +this is also an error. Honest ministers can very well discern between +the interest of Christ, and of the king. I know no minister that setteth +up king Charles, with prejudice to Christ's interest. + +There are three sorts of persons who are not to be allowed in relation +to the king's interest, 1. Such as have not been content to oppose a +king in an evil course, (as they might lawfully do) but contrary to +covenant vows and many declarations, have cast off kings and kingly +government. These are the sectaries. 2. These who are so taken up with a +king, as they prefer a king's interest to Christ's interest; which was +the sin of our engagers. 3. They who will have no duty done to a king, +for fear of prejudicing Christ's interest. These are to be allowed, who +urge duty to a king in subordination to Christ. + +I shall desire that men may be real, when they make mention of Christ's +interest; for these three mentioned profess and pretend the interest of +Christ. The sectaries cover their destroying of kings with Christ's +interest; whereunto, indeed, they have had no respect, being enemies to +His kingdom. And experience hath made it undeniable. The engagers +alleged they were for Christ's interest; but they misplaced it. Christ's +interest should have gone before, but they drew it after the interest of +a king, which evidenced their want of due respect to Christ's interest. +As for the third, who delay duty for fear of preferring the king's +interest to Christ's, I shall not take upon me to judge their +intentions. I wish they may have charity to those who think they may do +duty to a king in subordination to Christ, yea, that they ought and +should do duty, whatever men's fears be of the prejudice that may +follow. + +If to be against the suspending of the king from the exercise of his +power, and to be for the crowning of the king, according to the public +faith of the kingdoms, he first performing all that kirk and state +required of him in relation to religion, and civil liberties: if this +be, I say, to prefer a king to Christ, let all men that are unbiassed, +be judges in the case. We shall well avow, that we crown a king in +subordination to God and his interest, in subordination to Christ's, +which we judge, not only agreeable to the word of God, but also, that we +are bound expressly in the covenant, to maintain the king in the +preservation and defence of the true religion, and liberties of the +kingdom, and not to diminish his just power and greatness. + +2. That the covenant between God and the king and the people, goeth +before the covenant between the king and the people; which sheweth, that +a people's entering covenant with God doth not lessen their obedience +and allegiance to the king, but increaseth it, and maketh the obedience +firmer: because we are in covenant with God, we should the more obey a +covenanted king. It is a great error to think, that a covenant +diminisheth obedience, it was ever thought accumulative. And indeed true +religion layeth strict ties upon men in doing of their duty. "Wherefore +ye must needs be subject not only for wrath, but also for conscience' +sake." A necessity to obey is laid upon all. Many subjects obey for +wrath, but the godly obey for conscience' sake. + +3. That a king covenanted with God should be much respected by his +subjects. They should love him. There is an inbred affection in the +hearts of the people to their king. In the 12th verse it is said, that +"the people clapped their hands for joy, and said, God save the king." +They had no sooner seen their native king installed in his kingdom, but +they rejoiced exceedingly, and saluted him with wishes of safety. +Whatever be men's affections, or respects, this day, to our king, +certainly it is a duty lying on us both to pray for, and rejoice in his +safety. The very end that God hath in giving us kings maketh this clear. +"That we may live under them in godliness and honesty." And therefore, +prayers and supplications are to be made for all kings; even for those +that are not in covenant; much more for these that are in covenant. Ye +are receiving this day a crowned covenanted king, pray for saving grace +to him, and that God would deliver him and us, out of the hand of these +cruel enemies, and bless his government, and cause us to live a quiet +and peaceable life under him in all godliness and honesty. + +4. That as the king is solemnly sworn to maintain the right of the +subjects against enemies, and is bound to hazard his life, and all that +he hath for their defence: so, the people are also bound to maintain his +person and authority, and to hazard life, and all that they have, in +defending him. + +I shall not take the question in its full latitude, taking in what a +people are bound to in pursuing of a king's right in another nation, +which is not our present question. Our question is, what a people should +do when a kingdom is unjustly invaded by a foreign enemy, who seeketh +the overthrow of religion, king and kingdom. Surely, if men be tied to +any duty to a king and kingdom, they are tied in this case. I have two +sorts of men to meet with here, who are deficient in doing this +covenanted duty: 1. These who do not act against the enemy. 2. These who +do act for the enemy. 1. The first I meet with, are they who act not, +but lie by, to behold what will become of all: three sorts of men act +not for the defence of an invaded kingdom; 1. Those who withdraw +themselves from public councils, as from parliament or committee of +estates: this withdrawing is not to act. 2. These act not who, upon an +apprehension of the desperate state of things, do think that all is in +such a condition, by the prevailing of the enemy, that there is no +remedy: and therefore that it is best to sit still; and see how things +go. + +They who do not act upon scruple of conscience. I shall ever respect +tenderness of conscience; and I wish there be no more but tenderness. If +there be no more, men will strive to have their consciences well +informed. + +They may be supposed to scruple upon one of these grounds: 1. To act in +such a cause, for the king's interest; sure I am, this was not a doubt +before, but all seemed to agree to act for the king's interest, in +subordination to Christ's, and this day there is no more sought. We own +the king's interest only in a subordination to Christ's. Or, 2. To join +with such instruments as are enemies to the work of God. Our answer to +the estates' query resolves that such should not be entrusted: but we do +not count these enemies who profess repentance, and declare themselves +solemnly to be for the cause and the covenant, and evidence their +willingness to fight for them. If it be said their repentance is but +counterfeit, we are bound to think otherwise in charity, till the +contrary be seen: no man can judge of the reality of hearts: for we have +now found by experience, that men who have been accounted above all +exception have betrayed their trust. If any who have not yet repented of +their former course shall be intrusted, we shall be sorry for it; and +plainly say, that it ought not to be. + +But I think there must be more in this, that men say they cannot act. +For myself, I love not that word in our case; it is too frequent, he +cannot act, and he cannot act. I fear there be three sorts of persons +lurking under this covert. 1. Such as are pusillanimous, who have no +courage to act against the enemy; the word is true of them, they cannot +act because they dare not act. 2. Such as are selfish men, serving their +idol credit: he hath been a man of honour, and now he feareth there will +be no credit to fight against this prevailing enemy: therefore he cannot +act, and save his credit. Be who thou wilt that hast this before thee, +God shall blast thy reputation. Thou shalt neither have honour nor +credit, to do a right turn in God's cause. 3. Such as are compilers, who +cannot act, because they have a purpose to comply. There are that cannot +act in an army, but they can betray an army by not acting; there are +that cannot act for safety of a kingdom, but they betray it by not +acting. In a word, there are who cannot join to act with those whom they +account malignants (I speak not of declared and known malignants; but of +such as have been, and are, fighting for the cause; yet by them esteemed +malignants), but they can join with sectaries, open and declared enemies +to kirk and kingdom. I wish subjects, who are bound to fight for the +kingdom, would lay by that phrase of not acting, which is so frequent in +the mouth of compliers, and offensive to them, who would approve +themselves in doing duty for endangered religion, king and kingdom. + +That men may be the more clear to act, I shall offer to your +consideration some passages of Scriptures, about those who do not act +against a common enemy. + +1. There are many reproved for lying still while an enemy had invaded +the land: as Reuben, with his divisions: Gilead, Dan, and Asher seeking +themselves, are all reproved for not joining with the people of God, who +were willing to jeopard their lives against "a mighty oppressing enemy." +But there is one passage concerning Meroz, which fitteth our purpose, +"The angel of the Lord said, Curse ye Meroz, curse ye bitterly the +inhabitants thereof; they came not to the help of the Lord, to the help +of the Lord against the mighty." What this Meroz was, is not clear: yet +all interpreters agree that they had opportunity and power to have +joined with, and helped the people of the Lord, and it is probable they +were near the place of the fight. They are cursed for not coming to the +help of the Lord's people. This may be applied to those in the land, who +will not help the Lord against the mighty. + +2. Another passage you have. Reuben and Gad having a multitude of +cattle, and having seen the land of Gilead, that it was a place for +cattle, they desire of Moses and the princes, that the land may be given +them, and they may not pass over Jordan. Moses reproveth them in these +words, "Shall your brethren go to war; and shall ye sit still? Wherefore +discourage ye the heart of the children of Israel?" Reuben and Gad make +their apology, showing that they have no such intention to sit still, +only they desire their wives and little ones may stay there: they +themselves promise to go over Jordan, armed before Israel, and not to +return before they were possessed in the land. Then Moses said unto +them, "If you do so, then this shall be your possession. But, if ye do +not so, behold, ye have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sins +will find you out." + +I may apply this to them that cannot act; will ye sit still, when the +rest of your brethren are to hazard their lives against the enemy? We +have reason to reprove you. If Moses, that faithful servant of God, was +still jealous of Reuben and Gad, even after their apology and promise to +act--for he saith, "If ye do not so"--have not honest and faithful +servants of God, ground to be jealous of their brethren who refuse to +act? Let them apologize what they will; for their not acting, I say, +they sin against the Lord, and their sins shall find them out. It will +be clearly seen, upon what intention they do not act. + +3. A third passage. Saul hath David enclosed, that he can hardly escape. +In that very instant there cometh a messenger to Saul, saying, "Haste +thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land." At the +hearing of this message, "Saul returned from pursuing after David, and +went against the Philistines." It is true, the Lord did provide for his +servant David's escape, by this means: but, if ye consider Saul, he took +it not so. Nothing moved him to leave this pursuit but the condition of +the land, by the invading of an enemy. Three things might have moved +Saul to stay and pursue David. 1. He hath him now in a strait, and hath +such advantage, that he might have thought not to come readily by the +like. 2. That altho' the Philistines be enemies, yet David is the most +dangerous enemy; for he aimeth at no less than the crown. It were better +to take conditions off the enemy, than to suffer David to live, and take +the crown. 3. He might have said, if I leave David at this time and +fight with the Philistines, and be beaten, he will get a power in his +hand to undo me and my posterity. These may seem strong motives; but +Saul is not moved with any of them. The present danger is the +Philistines invading the land, and this danger is to be opposed, come of +the danger from David what will. As if Saul had said, I will let David +alone, I will meet with him another time, and reckon with him: now +there is no time for it, the Philistines are in the land, let us make +haste against them. I wish that many of our countrymen had as great a +love to their country, and as public a spirit for it, as this profane +king had, then there would not be so many questions for acting, as men +make this day. + +The objections I have been touching are in men's thoughts and heads. +First, some say, now the malignants are under, for this enemy is their +rod. It is best to put them out of having any power: yea, there are some +who would more willingly go to undo these, whom they account malignants, +than against the common enemy, who are wasting the land. If they had +Saul's resolution, they would say, the Philistines are in the land, let +them alone, we will reckon with them at another time; we will now go +against the common enemy. + +They have also the second objection, the malignants are more dangerous +enemies than the sectaries. I shall not now compare them to equal +distance, and abstract from the present danger: but I shall compare them +to the present posture of affairs. I am sure the sectaries having power +in their hands, and a great part of the land in their possession, are +far more dangerous than malignants, who have no power for the present: +and therefore, the resolution should be, the sectaries have invaded the +land, and are destroying it, let us go against them. + +3. The third observation weigheth much with many. The malignants, being +employed to fight for their country, may get such power in their hands +as may hurt the cause. For answer: 1. The resolution given the query of +the estates provideth against that, for therein is a desire that no such +power should be put in their hand. 2. This fear goeth upon a +supposition, that they do not repent their former course. This is an +uncharitable judgment. We are bound to be more charitable of men +professing repentance, for with such we have to do only. And, to speak +a word by the way to you who have been in a malignant course. Little +good is expected from you, I pray you be honest, and disappoint them. I +wish you true repentance, which will both disappoint them, and be +profitable to yourselves. 3. I desire it may be considered, whether or +not, fear of a danger to come from men, if they prevail against the +common enemy, being only clothed with a capacity to fight for their +country, be an argument against rising to oppose a seen and certain +danger, coming from an enemy, clothed with power, and still prevailing. +I conceive, it ought to be far from any, to hinder men to defend their +country in such a case. I confess, indeed, the cause which we maintain +hath met with many enemies, who have been against it, which requireth +much tenderness; therefore men are to be admitted to trust, with such +exceptions as may keep them out who are still enemies to the cause of +God, have not professed repentance, renounced their former courses, and +declared themselves for cause and covenant. I doubt not, but it shall be +found, that the admitting such to fight in our case as it standeth, is +agreeable to the word of God, and is not against the former public +resolutions of kirk and state. + +The second sort of persons we are to meet with, are such as act for the +enemy, against the kingdom. If they be cursed who will not come out to +help the Lord against the mighty; what a curse shall be upon them, who +help the mighty against the Lord, as they do who act for the enemy? +Three ways is the enemy helped against the cause and people of God. + +1. By keeping correspondence with them, and giving them intelligence; +there is nothing done against kirk or state, but they have intelligence +of it. A baser way hath never been used in any nation. Your counsels and +purposes are made known to them. If there be any such here (as I fear +they be), let them take this to them, they are of these who help the +mighty against the Lord, and the curse shall stick to them. + +2. By strengthening the enemies' hands with questions, debates and +determinations, in papers tending to the justifying of their unjust +invasion. Whatever have been men's intentions in taking that way, yet +the thing done by them, hath tended to the advantage of the enemy, and +hath divided these who should have been joined in the cause, to the +great weakening of the power of the kingdom, and this, interpretatively, +is to act for the mighty against the Lord. + +3. By gross compliance with the enemy, and going into them, doing all +the evil offices they can, against their native kingdom. If Meroz was +cursed for not helping, shall not these perfidious covenant-breakers and +treacherous dealers against a distressed land be much more accursed, for +helping and assisting a destroying enemy, so far as lieth in their +power? These words may be truly applied to them who are helping +strangers, enemies to God, His kirk, and religion, "Both he that +helpeth, shall fall; and he that is holpen shall fall down, and they all +shall fall together." + +III. The third particular about this covenant remains to be spoken of; +_to wit_, Some directions to the king, for the right performing of his +duty, whereof I shall give seven. + +1. A king, meeting with many difficulties in doing of duty, by reason of +strong corruption within and many temptations without: he should be +careful to seek God by prayer, for grace to overcome these impediments, +and for an understanding heart to govern his people. Solomon, having in +his option to ask what he would, he asked an understanding heart, to go +out and in before his people; knowing that the government of a people +was a very difficult work, and needed more than ordinary understanding. +A king hath also many enemies (as our king hath this day), and a praying +king is a prevailing king. Asa, when he had to do with a mighty enemy, +prayed fervently and prevailed. Jehoshaphat was invaded by a mighty +enemy, He prayed and did prevail. Hezekiah prayed against Sennacherib's +huge army and prevailed. Sir, you have many difficulties and oppositions +to meet; acquaint yourself with prayer, be instant with God, and He will +fight for you. Prayers are not in much request at court; but a +covenanted king must bring them in request. I know a king is burthened +with multiplicity of affairs, and will meet with many diversions; but, +sir, you must not be diverted. Take hours, and set them apart for that +exercise: men being once acquainted with your way, will not dare to +divert you. Prayer to God will make your affairs easy all the day. I +read of a king, of whom his courtiers said, "He spoke oftener with God, +than with men." If you be frequent in prayer, you may expect the +blessing of the Most High upon yourself, and upon your government. + +2. A king must be careful of the kingdom which he hath sworn to +maintain. We have had many of too private a spirit, by whom +self-interest hath been preferred to the public; it becometh a king well +to be of a public spirit, to care more for the public than his own +interest. Senates and states have had mottoes written over the doors of +their meeting-places. Over the senate house of Rome was written, _Ne +quid respublica detrimenti capiat_. I shall wish this may be written +over your assembly-houses; but there is another which I would have +written with it, _Ne quid ecclesia detrimenti capiat_. Be careful of +both; let neither kirk nor state suffer hurt; let them go together. The +best way for the standing of a kingdom is a well constitute kirk. They +deceive kings who make them believe that the government of the kirk--I +mean presbyterial government--cannot suit with monarchy. They suit well, +it being the ordinance of Christ, rendering unto God what is God's, and +unto Caesar what is Caesar's. + +3. Kings who have a tender care of the kirk are called nursing fathers. +You should be careful that the gospel may have a free passage through +the kingdom; and that the government of the kirk may be preserved entire +according to your solemn engagement. The kirk hath met with many +enemies, as papists, prelates, malignants, which I pass as known +enemies: but there are two sorts more, who at this time should be +carefully looked on. 1. Sectaries, great enemies to the kirk, and to all +the ordinances of Christ, and more particularly to presbyterial +government, which they have, and would have, altogether destroyed. A +king should set himself against these, because they are enemies, as well +to the king as to the kirk, and strive to make both fall together. 2. +Erastians, more dangerous snares to kings than sectaries; because kings +can look well enough to these, who are against themselves, and their +power, as sectaries, who will have no king. But erastians give more +power to kings than they should have, and are great enemies to +presbyterial government; for they would make kings believe that there is +no government but the civil, and derived from thence, which is a great +wrong to the Son of God, who hath the government of the kirk distinct +from the civil, yet no ways prejudicial to it, being spiritual, and of +another nature. Christ did put the magistrate out of suspicion, that His +kingdom was not prejudicial to civil government, affirming, "My kingdom +is not of this world." This government, Christ hath not committed to +kings, but to the office-bearers of His house, who, in regard of civil +subjection, are under the civil power as well as others; but, in their +spiritual administration, they are under Christ, who hath not given unto +any king upon earth the dispensation of spiritual things to His people. + +Sir, you are in covenant with God and His people, and are obliged to +maintain presbyterial government, as well against erastians as +sectaries. I know this erastian humour aboundeth at court. It may be, +some endeavour to make you encroach upon that for which God hath +punished your predecessors. Be who he will that meddleth with this +government to overturn it, it shall be as heavy to him as the +burthensome stone to the enemies of the kirk. "They are cut in pieces, +who burden themselves with it." 3. A king in covenant with the people of +God, should make much of these who are in covenant with him, having in +high estimation the faithful ministers of Christ, and the godly people +of the land. It is rare to find kings lovers of faithful ministers and +pious people. It hath been the fault of our own kings to persecute the +godly. 1. Let the king love the servants of Christ, who speak the truth. +Evil kings are branded with this, that they contemned the prophets. When +Amaziah had taken the gods of Seir, and set them up for his gods, a +prophet came to him and reproved him; unto whom the king said, "Who made +thee of the king's council? Forbear, lest thou be smitten." This +contempt of the prophet's warning is a forerunner of following +destruction. Be a careful hearer of God's word; take with reproof; +esteem of it, as David did, "It shall be an excellent oil, which shall +not break my head." To make much of the faithful servants of Christ, +will be an evidence of reality. 2. Let the king esteem well of godly +professors. Let piety be in account. It is a fault very common, that +pious men, because of their conscientious and strict walking, are hated +by the profane, who love to live loosely: it is usual with profane men +to labour to bring kings to a distaste of the godly; especially when men +who have professed piety have become scandalous, whereupon they are +ready to judge all pious men to be like them; and take occasion to speak +evil of piety. I fear at this time, when men who have been commended for +piety, have fallen foully and betrayed their trust, that men will take +advantage to speak against the godly of the land; beware of this, for it +is Satan's policy to put piety out of request: let not this move any; +fall who will, piety is still the same, and pious men will make +conscience both of their ways and trust; remember, they are precious in +God's eyes who will not suffer men to despise them, without their +reward. Sir, let not your heart be from the godly in the land, whatever +hath fallen out at this time: I dare affirm, there are very many really +godly men who, by their prayers, are supporting your throne. + +4. A king should be careful whom he putteth in places of trust, as a +main thing for the good of the kingdom. It is a maxim, that trust should +not be put in their hands who have oppressed the people, or have +betrayed their trust. There is a passage in a story meet for this +purpose: one Septimus Arabinus, a man famous, or rather infamous, for +oppression, was put out of the Senate, but re-admitted about this time; +Alexander Severus being chosen to the empire, the Senators did entertain +him with public salutations and congratulations. Severus, espying +Arabinus amongst the senators, cried out, _O numina! Arabinus non solum +vivit, sed in senatum venit_. Ah! Arabinus not only liveth, but he is in +the senate. Out of just indignation, he could not endure to see him. As +all are not meet for places of trust in judicatures, so all are not meet +for places of trust in armies. Men should be chosen who are godly, and +able for the charge. + +But there are some who are not meet for trust. 1. They who are godly, +but have no skill or ability for the places. A man may be a truly godly +man who is not fit for such place; and no wrong is done to him nor to +godliness, when the place is denied to him. I wonder how a godly man can +take upon him a place, whereof he hath no skill. 2. They who have +neither skill nor courage, are very unmeet; for, if it be a place of +never so great moment, faint-heartedness will make them quit it. 3. They +who are both skilful and stout, yet are not honest, but perfidious and +treacherous, should have no trust at all. Of all these we have sad +experience, experience which should not move you to make choice of +profane and godless men, by whom a blessing is not to be expected, but +it should move you to be wary in your choice; I am confident such may +be had, who will be faithful for religion, king and kingdom. + +5. There hath been much debate about the exercise of the king's power; +yet he is put in the exercise of his power, and this day put in a better +capacity to exercise it by his coronation. Many are afraid that the +exercise of his power shall prove dangerous to the cause, and indeed I +confess there is ground of fear, when we consider how this power hath +been abused by former kings: therefore, Sir, make good use of this +power, and see that you rather keep within bounds, than exceed in the +exercise of it. I may very well give such a counsel as an old counsellor +gave to a king of France; he, having spent many years at court, desired +to retire into the country for enjoying privacy fit for his age; and, +having obtained leave, the king his master required him to sit down, and +write some advice of government, to leave behind him, which he out of +modesty declined: the king would not be denied, but left with him pen +and ink and a sheet of paper; he, being alone, after some thoughts, +wrote with fair and legible characters in the head of the sheet, +_modus_; in the middle of the sheet, _modus_; and in the foot of the +sheet, _modus_; and wrote no more in all the paper, which he wrapped up +and delivered to the king; meaning that the best counsel he could give +him, was, that he should keep temper in all things. Nothing more fit for +a young king than to keep temper in all things. Take this counsel, Sir, +and be moderate in the use of your power. The best way to keep power, is +moderation in the use of it. + +6. The king hath many enemies, even such as are enemies to his family +and to all kingly government; and are now in the bowels of this kingdom, +wasting and destroying; bestir yourself, according to vows and oaths +that are upon you, to be active for the relief of Christ's kingdom, +borne down by them, in all the three kingdoms; and for the relief of +this kingdom grievously oppressed by them. We shall earnestly desire +that God would put that spirit upon our king, now entered upon public +government, which He hath put upon the deliverers of His people from +their cruel oppressors. + +In speaking of the king's behaviour to enemies, one thing I cannot pass. +There is much spoken of a treaty with this enemy: I am not of the +judgment of some, who distinguish a treaty before invasion and after +invasion, and say, treatying is very lawful before invasion; because it +is supposed that there is a little wrong done; but after invasion, when +a kingdom is wronged and put to infinite losses, then they say a treaty +is to be shunned; but in my judgment, a treaty may be lawful after +invasion and wrongs sustained; the end of war is peace, neither should +desire of revenge obstruct it, providing it be such a treaty and peace +as is not prejudicial to religion, nor to the safety of the kingdom, nor +to the undoubted right of the king, nor to the league and covenant, +whereunto we are so solemnly engaged. + +But, I must break off this treaty with a story related in Plutarch. The +city of Athens was in a great strait, wherein they knew not what to do. +Themistocles in this strait said he had something wherein to give his +opinion, for the behoof of the state, but he thought it not fit to +deliver himself publicly. Aristides, a man of great trust, is appointed +to hear him privately, and to make an account as he thought meet. When +Aristides came to make his report to the senate, he told them that +Themistocles' advice was indeed profitable, but not honest, whereupon +the people would not so much as hear it. There is much whispering of a +treaty, they are not willing to speak publicly of it: hear them in +private, and it may be the best advice shall be profitable, but not +honest. If a treaty should be, let it be both profitable and honest, and +no lover of peace will be against it. + +7. Seeing the king is now upon the renewing of the covenants, it should +be remembered that we enter into covenant, according to our profession +therein, with reality, sincerity, and constancy, which are the +qualifications of good covenanters. Many doubt of your reality in the +covenant, let your sincerity and reality be evidenced by your +stedfastness and constancy; for many have begun well, but have not been +constant. In the sacred history of kings, we find a note upon kings +according to their carriages: one of three sentences is written upon +them. 1. Some kings have this written on them, "He did evil in the sight +of the Lord." They neither begin well, nor end well; such an one was +Ahaz, king of Judah, and divers others in that history. 2. Others have +this written on them, "He did that which was right in the sight of the +Lord, but not with a perfect heart." Such an one was Amaziah king of +Judah. He was neither sincere nor constant: when God blessed him with +victory against the Edomites, he fell foully from the true worship of +God, and set up the gods of Edom. 3. A third sentence is written upon +the godly kings of Judah, "He did right in the sight of the Lord, with a +perfect heart." As Asa, Hezekiah, Jehoshaphat, and Josiah, they were +both sincere and constant. Let us neither have the first nor the second, +but the third written upon our king, "He did right in the sight of the +Lord, with a perfect heart." Begin well, and continue constant. + +Before I close, I shall seek leave to lay before our young king, two +examples to beware of, and one to follow. The two warning examples, one +of them is in the text, another in our own history. + +The first example is of Joash. He began well, and went on in a godly +reformation all the days of Jehoiada; but, it is observed, "That after +the days of Jehoiada, the princes of Judah came, and did obeisance to +the king, and he hearkened unto them." It appeareth, they had been lying +in wait till the death of Jehoiada; and took the opportunity to destroy +the true worship of God, and set up false worship, flattering the king +for that effect: for it is said, "They left the house of the Lord, and +served groves and idols;" and were so far from being reclaimed by the +prophet of the Lord that was sent unto them, that they conspired against +Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada, who reproved them mildly for their +idolatry, and stoned him with stones, and slew him at the king's +commandment. And it is said, "Joash remembered not the kindness that +Jehoiada his father had done to him, but slew his son." Sir, take this +example for a warning. You are obliged by the covenant to go on in the +work of reformation. It may be, some great ones are waiting their time, +not having opportunity to work for the present, till afterward they may +make obeisance, and persuade you to destroy all that hath been done in +the work of God, these divers years. Beware of it; let no allurement or +persuasion prevail with you, to fall from that which this day you bind +yourself to maintain. + +Another example I give you, yet in recent memory, of your grandfather, +king James. He fell, to be very young, in a time full of difficulties: +yet there was a godly party in the land who did put the crown upon his +head. And when he came to some years, he and his people entered into a +covenant with God. He was much commended by godly and faithful men, +comparing him to young Josiah standing at the altar, renewing a covenant +with God; and he himself did thank God that he was born in a reformed +kirk, better reformed than England: for they retained many popish +ceremonies: yea better reformed than Geneva; for they keep some holy +days; charging his people to be constant and promising himself to +continue in that reformation, and to maintain the same. Notwithstanding +of all this, he made a foul defection: he remembered not the kindness of +them who had held the crown upon his head; yea he persecuted faithful +ministers for opposing that course of defection: he never rested till he +had undone presbyterial government and kirk assemblies, setting up +bishops, and bringing in ceremonies, against which formerly he had +given large testimony. In a word, he laid the foundation whereupon his +son, our late king, did build much mischief to religion, all the days of +his life. Sir, I lay this example before you the rather because it is so +near you, that the guiltiness of the transgression lieth upon the throne +and family, and it is one of the sins for which you have professed +humiliation very lately. Let it be laid to heart, take warning, requite +not faithful men's kindness with persecution; yea, requite not the Lord +so, who hath preserved you to this time, and is setting a crown upon +your head. Requite not the Lord with apostasy and defection from a sworn +covenant: but be stedfast in the covenant, as you would give testimony +of your true humiliation for the defection of these that went before +you. + +I have set up these two examples before you, as beacons to warn you to +keep off such dangerous courses, and shall add one for imitation, which, +if followed, may happily bring with it the blessing of that godly man's +adherence to God. The example is of Hezekiah, who did that "which was +right in the sight of the Lord." It is said of him, "He trusted in the +Lord God of Israel, and he clave unto the Lord, and departed not from +following Him, but kept His commandments." And "The Lord was with him, +and he prospered whithersoever he went forth." + +Sir, follow this example, cleave unto the Lord, and depart not from +following Him, and the Lord will be with you, and prosper you, +whithersoever you go. To this Lord, from whom we expect a blessing upon +this day's work, be glory and praise for ever. Amen. + + + + +CHARLES II. TAKING THE COVENANTS. + + +Sermon being ended, prayer was made for a blessing upon the doctrine +delivered. The king began to renew the covenants. First the National +Covenant and then the Solemn League and Covenant were distinctly read. +After the reading of these covenants, the minister prayed for grace to +perform the contents of the covenants, and for faithful stedfastness in +the oath of God: and then (the ministers, commissioners of the General +Assembly, desired to be present, standing before the pulpit) he +administered the oath unto the king, who, kneeling and lifting up his +right hand, did swear in the words following. + +"I Charles, king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, do assure and +declare, by my solemn oath, in the presence of Almighty God, the +searcher of hearts, my allowance and approbation of the National +Covenant, and of the Solemn League and Covenant above written, and +faithfully oblige myself to prosecute the ends thereof in my station and +calling; and that I for myself and successors, shall consent and agree +to all acts of parliament enjoining the national covenant and the solemn +league and covenant, and fully establishing presbyterial government, the +directory for worship, confession of faith, and catechisms, in the +kingdom of Scotland, as they are approven by the General Assemblies of +this Kirk, and Parliament of this kingdom; and that I shall give my +royal assent, to acts and ordinances of parliament passed, or to be +passed, enjoining the same in my other dominions: and that I shall +observe these in my own practice and family, and shall never make +opposition to any of these, or endeavour any change thereof."[16] + +After the king had thus solemnly sworn the National Covenant, the League +and Covenant, and the King's Oath, subjoined unto both, being drawn up +in a fair parchment; the king did subscribe the same, in presence of +all. + +Thereafter the king ascended the stage, and sitteth down in the chair of +state. Then the lords, great constable, and marshal, went to the four +corners of the stage, with the lion going before them; who spoke to the +people these words, "Sirs, I do present unto you the king CHARLES, the +rightful and undoubted heir of the crown, and dignity of this realm: +this day is by the parliament of this kingdom appointed for his +coronation; and are you not willing to have him for your king, and +become subject to his commandments?" + +In which action, the king's majesty stood up, showing himself to the +people, in each corner; and the people expressed their willingness, by +cheerful acclamations in these words, "God save the king, CHARLES the +Second." + +Thereafter the king's majesty, supported by the constable and marshal, +cometh down from the stage, and sitteth down in the chair, where he +heard the sermon. The minister, accompanied with the ministers +before-mentioned, cometh from the pulpit toward the king, and requireth, +if he was willing to take the oath, appointed to be taken at the +coronation? The king answered, he was most willing. + +Then the oath of coronation, as it is contained in the eighth act of the +first parliament of king James, being read by the lion, the tenor +whereof followeth: + +"Because that the increase of virtue, and suppressing of idolatry, +craveth, that the prince and the people be of one perfect religion; +which of God's mercy is now presently professed within this realm: +therefore it is statuted and ordained, by our sovereign lord, my lord +regent, and three estates of this present parliament: that all kings, +princes, and magistrates whatsoever, holding their place, which +hereafter at any time shall happen to reign, and bear rule over this +realm, at the time of their coronation, and receipt of their princely +authority, make their faithful promise, in the presence of the eternal +God; that, enduring the whole course of their lives, they shall serve +the same eternal God to the uttermost of their power, according as He +hath required in His most holy Word, revealed and contained in the New +and Old Testaments; and, according to the same words, shall maintain the +true religion of Christ Jesus, the preaching of His holy Word, and due +and right ministration of the sacraments now received and preached +within this realm: and shall abolish and gainstand all false religions, +contrary to the same: and shall rule the people committed to their +charge, according to the will and command of God, revealed in His +foresaid Word, and according to the loveable laws and constitutions +received in this realm, no ways repugnant to the said Word of the +eternal God; and shall procure to the uttermost of their power, to the +kirk of God and whole Christian people, true and perfect peace, in time +coming. The rights and rents, with all just privileges of the crown of +Scotland, to preserve and keep inviolated: neither shall they transfer, +nor alienate the same. They shall forbid and repress, in all estates and +degrees, rife oppression, and all kind of wrong: in all judgments they +shall command and procure that justice and equity be keeped to all +creatures, without exception, as the Lord and Father of Mercies, be +merciful unto them: and out of their lands and empire they shall be +careful to root all heretics, and enemies to the true worship of God, +that shall be convict by the true kirk of God, of the foresaid crimes; +and that they shall faithfully affirm the things above written by their +solemn oath." + +The minister tendered the oath unto the king, who, kneeling and holding +up his light hand, swore in these words, "By the Eternal and Almighty +God, who liveth and reigneth for ever, I shall observe and keep all +that is contained in this Oath." + +This done, the king's majesty sat down in his chair and reposeth himself +a little. + +Then the king riseth from his chair, and is disrobed by the lord great +chamberlain, of the princely robe wherewith he entered the kirk, and is +invested by the said chamberlain, in his royal robes. + +Thereafter, the king being brought to the chair on the north side of the +kirk, supported as formerly; the sword was brought by Sir William +Cockburn of Langtown, gentleman usher from the table, and delivered to +lion king of arms; who giveth it to the lord great constable, who +putteth the same in the king's hand, saying, "Sir, receive this kingly +sword, for the defence of the faith of Christ, and protection of His +kirk, and of the true religion, as it is presently professed within this +kingdom, and according to the national covenant and league and covenant, +and for executing equity and justice, and for punishment of all iniquity +and injustice." + +This done, the great constable receiveth the sword from the king, and +girdeth the same about his side. + +Thereafter, the king sitteth down in his chair, and then the spurs were +put on him by the earl Marshall. + +Thereafter, Archibald, Marquiss of Argyle, having taken the crown in his +hands, the minister prayed, to this purpose: + +"That the Lord would purge the crown from the sins and transgressions of +them that did reign before him; that it might be a pure crown; that God +would settle the crown upon the king's head: and, since men that set it +on were not able to settle it, that the Lord would put it on, and +preserve it." And then the said Marquiss put the crown on the king's +head. + +Which done, the lion king of arms, the great constable standing by him, +causeth an herald to call the whole noblemen, one by one, according to +their ranks, who, coming before the king, kneeling, and with their hand +touching the crown on the king's head, swore these words, "By the +Eternal and Almighty God, who liveth and reigneth for ever; I shall +support thee to my uttermost." And when they had done, then all the +nobility held up their hands and "swore to be loyal and true subjects, +and faithful to the crown." + +The earl Marshall, with the lion, going to the four corners of the +stage, the lion proclaimeth the obligatory oath of the people; and the +people, holding up their hands all the time, did swear, "By the Eternal +and Almighty God, who liveth and reigneth for ever, we become your liege +men, and truth and faith shall bear unto you, and live and die with you +against all manner of folks whatsoever, in your service, according to +the National Covenant, and Solemn League and Covenant." + +Then did the earls and viscounts put on their crowns, and the lion +likewise put on his. Then did the lord chamberlain loose the sword +wherewith the king was girded, and drew it, and delivered it drawn into +the king's hands; and the king put it into the hands of the great +constable, to carry it naked before him. Then John, earl of Crawford and +Lindsay, took the sceptre, and put it in the king's right hand, saying, +"Sir, receive this sceptre, the sign of royal power of the kingdom, that +you may govern yourself right, and defend all the Christian people +committed by God to your charge, punishing the wicked, and protecting +the just." + +Then did the king ascend the stage, attended by the officers of the +crown, and nobility, and was installed in the royal throne by Archibald, +Marquiss of Argyle, saying, "Stand, and hold fast from henceforth the +place whereof you are the lawful and righteous heir, by a long and +lineal succession of your fathers, which is new delivered unto you by +authority of Almighty God." + +When the king was set down upon the throne, the minister spoke to him a +word of exhortation as followeth. + +"Sir, you are set down upon the throne in a very difficult time, I shall +therefore put you in mind of a scriptural expression of a throne. "It is +said, Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord." Sir, you are a king, and a +king in covenant with the Lord; if you would have the Lord to own you to +be His king, and your throne to be His throne, I desire you may have +some thoughts of this expression. + +1. "It is the Lord's throne. Remember you have a King above you, the +King of kings, and Lord of lords, who commandeth thrones. He setteth +kings on thrones, and dethroneth them at His pleasure: therefore take a +word of advice; be thankful to Him who hath brought you through many +wanderings to set you upon this throne. Kiss the Son lest He be angry, +and learn to serve Him with fear who is terrible to the kings of the +earth. + +2. "Your throne is the Lord's throne, and your people the Lord's people: +let not your heart be lifted up above your brethren. They are your +brethren, not only flesh of your flesh, but brethren by covenant with +God. Let your government be refreshing unto them as the rain upon the +mown grass. + +3. "Your throne is the Lord's throne. Beware of making His throne a +throne of iniquity: there is such a throne, which frameth mischief by a +law; God will not own such a throne, it hath no fellowship with Him. +Sir, there is too much iniquity upon the throne by your predecessors, +who framed mischief by a law, such laws as have been destructive to +religion, and grievous to the Lord's people; you are on the throne, and +have the sceptre, beware of touching mischievous laws therewith: but, as +the throne is the Lord's throne, let the laws be the Lord's laws, +agreeable to His word, such as are terrible to evil-doers, and +comfortable to the godly, and a relief to the poor and oppressed in the +land. + +4. "The Lord's throne putteth you in mind whom you should have about the +throne. Wicked counsellors are not for a king upon the Lord's throne; +Solomon knew this, who said, 'Take away the wicked from before the king, +and his throne shall be established in righteousness:' and 'A king upon +the throne scattereth away all evil with his eyes.' + +5. "The Lord's throne putteth you in mind, that the judgment on the +throne should be the Lord's. Take the exhortation, 'Hear the word of the +Lord, O king of Judah, that sittest upon the throne, thou and thy +servants and thy people, execute ye judgment and righteousness, and +deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressors, and do no wrong, +do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless nor the widow, neither +shed innocent blood in this place. For if ye do this thing indeed, then +shall there enter by the gates of this house kings sitting upon the +throne of David. But, if ye will not hear these words, I swear by +myself, saith the Lord, that this house shall become a desolation.' And +'I will prepare destroyers against thee.' + +"Sir, destroyers are prepared for the injustice of the throne. I entreat +you to execute righteous judgment, if ye do it not, your house will be a +desolation; but, if ye do that which is right, God shall remove the +destroyers: and you shall be established on your throne; and there shall +yet be dignity in your house, for your servants, and for your people. + +"Lastly, If your throne be the throne of the Lord, take a word of +encouragement against throne adversaries. Your enemies are the enemies +of the Lord's throne: make your peace with God in Christ, and the Lord +shall scatter your enemies from the throne; and He shall magnify you yet +in the sight of these nations, and make the misled people submit +themselves willingly to your government. + +"Sir, If you use well the Lord's throne on which you are set, then the +two words in the place cited, spoken of Solomon sitting on the throne of +the Lord, 'He prospered and all Israel obeyed him,' shall belong unto +you; your people shall obey you in the Lord, and you shall prosper in +the sight of the nations round about." + +Then the lord chancellor went to the four corners of the stage, the lion +king of arms going before him, and proclaimed his majesty's free pardon +to all breakers of penal statutes, and made offer thereof: whereupon the +people cried, "God save the king." + +Then the king, supported by the great constable and marshall, and +accompanied with the chancellor, arose from the throne, and went out at +a door prepared for the purpose, to a stage; and sheweth himself to the +people without, who clapped their hands, and cried with a loud voice a +long time, "God save the king." + +Then, the king returning, and sitting down upon the throne, delivered +the sceptre to the Earl of Crawford and Lindsay, to be carried before +him: thereafter the lion king of arms rehearsed the royal line of the +kings upward to Fergus the First. + +Then the lion called the lords one by one who, kneeling and holding +their hands betwixt the king's hands, did swear these words, "By the +Eternal and Almighty God, who liveth and reigneth for ever, I do become +your liege man, and truth and faith shall bear unto you, and live and +die with you, against all manner of folks whatsoever in your service, +according to the National Covenant and Solemn League and Covenant." + +And every one of them kissed the king's left cheek. + +When these solemnities were ended, the minister, standing before the +king on his throne, pronounced this blessing: + +"The Lord bless thee, and save thee; the Lord hear thee in the day of +trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee; the Lord send thee +help from the sanctuary and strengthen thee out of Zion. Amen." + +After the blessing was pronounced, the minister went to the pulpit and +had the following exhortation, the king sitting still upon the throne. + +Ye have this day a king crowned, and entered into covenant with God and +His people; look, both king and people, that ye keep this covenant; and +beware of the breach of it. That ye may be the more careful to keep it, +I will lay a few things before you. + +I remember when the Solemn League and Covenant was entered into by both +nations. The commissioners from England being present in the East kirk +of Edinburgh, a passage was cited out of Nehemiah, which I shall now +again cite. Nehemiah requireth an oath of the nobles and people, to +restore the mortgaged lands, which they promise to do; after the oath +was tendered, he did shake his lap, and said, "So God shake out every +man from his house, and from his labour, that performeth not this +promise, even thus be he shaken out and emptied. And all the +congregation said, Amen." + +Since that time, many of those who were in the covenant, are shaken out +of it; yea, they have shaken off the covenant, and laid it aside. It is +true, they are prospering this day, and think that they prosper, by +laying aside the covenant; but they will be deceived. That word spoken +then shall not fall to the ground; God shall shake them out of their +possession, and empty them for their perfidious breach of the covenant. + +The same I say to king and nobles, and all that are in covenant; if you +break that covenant, being so solemnly sworn, all these who have touched +your crown, and sworn to support it, shall not be able to hold it on; +but God will shake it off, and turn you from the throne: and ye +noblemen, who are assistant to the putting on of the crown, and setting +the king upon the throne, if ye shall either assist, or advise the king +to break the covenant, and overturn the work of God, He shall shake you +out of your possessions, and empty you of all your glory. + +Another passage I offer to your serious consideration. After that +Zedekiah had promised to proclaim liberty to all the Lord's people, who +were servants, and entered into a covenant, he and his princes let them +go free, and according to the oath had let them go; afterwards they +caused the servants to return, and brought them into subjection. What +followeth upon this breach? "Ye were now turned, and had done right in +My sight, in proclaiming liberty; but ye turned, and made them servants +again." And therefore, "I will give the men who have transgressed My +covenant, who have not performed the words of the covenant, which they +made before me, when they cut the calf in twain, and passed between the +parts thereof; I will even give them into the hands of their enemies, +into the hand of them that seek their life, even Zedekiah and his +princes." + +If the breach of the covenant made for the liberty of servants was so +punished, what shall be the punishment of the breach of a covenant for +religion, and the liberty of the people of God? There is nothing more +terrible to kings and princes than to be given into the hand of enemies +that seek their life: if ye would escape this judgment, let kings and +princes keep their covenant made with God: your enemies who seek your +life, are in the land; if ye break the covenant, it may be feared God +will give you over unto them as a prey: but, if ye keep the covenant, it +may be expected God will keep you out of their hands. + +Let not the place ye heard opened, be forgotten, for in it ye have an +example of divine justice against Joash and the princes, for breaking +that covenant. The princes who enticed to that breach, are destroyed: +and it is said, "The army of the Syrians came with a small company of +men, and the Lord delivered a very great host into their hand;" because +they had forsaken the Lord God of their fathers: so they executed +judgment against Joash. "His own servants conspired against him and slew +him on his bed." + +The conspiracy of servants or subjects against their king is a wicked +course: but God in His righteous judgment suffereth subjects to conspire +and rebel against their princes, because they rebel against God: and He +suffereth subjects to break the covenant made with a king, because he +breaketh the covenant made with God. I may say freely, that a chief +cause of the judgment upon the king's house hath been the grandfather's +breach of covenant with God, and the father's following his steps in +opposing the work of God, and His kirk within these kingdoms; they broke +covenant with God, and men have broken covenant with them: yea, most +cruelly and perfidiously have invaded the royal family and trodden upon +all princely dignity. + +Be wise by their example: you are now sitting upon the throne of the +kingdom, and your nobles about you. There is One above you, even Jesus, +the King of Zion; and I as His servant, dare not but be free with you: I +charge you, Sir, in His name, that you keep this covenant in all points; +if you shall break this covenant and come against His cause, I assure +you the controversy is not ended between God and your family: but will +be carried on to the further weakening, if not the overthrow of it: but +if you shall keep this covenant, and befriend the kingdom of Christ, it +may be from this day God shall begin to do you good. Although your +estate be very weak, God is able to raise you, and make you reign, +maugre the opposition of all your enemies: and howsoever it shall please +the Lord to dispose, you shall have peace toward God, through Christ the +Mediator. + +As for you who are nobles and peers of the land, your share is great in +this day of coronation; ye have come and touched the crown, and sworn +to support it; ye have handled the sword and the sceptre, and have set +down the king upon his throne. + +1. I charge you to keep your covenant with God; and see that ye never be +moved yourselves to come against it in any head, or article thereof; and +that ye give no counsel to the king to come against the doctrine, +worship, government and discipline of the kirk, established in this +land, as ye would eschew the judgment of covenant-breakers. If the king +and ye who are engaged to support the crown, conspire together against +the kingdom of Christ, both ye that do support and he that is supported +will fall together. I press this the more, because it is a rare thing to +see a king and great men for Christ. In the long catalogue of the kings, +which ye have heard recited this day, they will be found few who have +been for Christ. + +2. I charge you also, because of your many oaths to the king; that you +keep them inviolable. Be faithful to him, according to your covenant. +The oaths of God are upon you; if, directly or indirectly, ye do +anything against his standing, God, by whom ye have sworn, will be +avenged upon you for the breach of His oath. + +And now, I will shut up all with one word more to you. Sir, you are the +only covenanted king with God and His people in the world; many have +obstructed your entry in it: now, seeing the Lord hath brought you in +over all these obstructions, only observe to do what is contained +therein; and it shall prove an happy time for you and your house. And +because you are entered in times of great difficulty, wherein small +strength seemeth to remain with you in the eyes of the world, for +recovering your just power and greatness; therefore take the counsel +which David when he was dying gave to his son Solomon, "Be strong, and +show thyself a man; and keep the charge of the Lord thy God: to walk in +His ways, and keep His commandments; that them mayest prosper in all +that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself." + +After this exhortation, the minister closed the whole action with +prayer; and, Psalm xx. being sung, he dismissed the people with the +blessing. + +Then did the king's majesty descend from the stage with the crown upon +his head; and, receiving again the sceptre in his hand, returned with +the whole train, in a solemn manner, to his palace, the sword being +carried before him. + + + + +THE ACTS RESCISSORY. + +FIRST PARLIAMENT OF CHARLES II. + +January, 1661.--7.--"_Act concerning the League and Covenant and +discharging the renewing thereof without his Majesties Warrand and +approbation._ + + +"Forasmuch as the power of Armes, and entering into, and making of +Leagues and Bonds, is an undoubted privilege of the Crown, and a proper +part of the Royal Prerogative of the Kings of this Kingdom, and that in +recognisance of His Majesties just Right, the Estates of Parliament of +this His most ancient Kingdom of Scotland, have declared it high Treason +to the Subjects thereof, of whatsoever number, lesse or more, upon any +pretext whatsoever, to rise, or continue in Armes, or to enter into +Leagues and Bonds, with Forraigners, or among themselves, without His +Majesties special Warrand and Approbation, had and obtained thereto, and +have Rescinded and Annulled all Acts of Parliament, Conventions of +Estates, or other Deeds whatsoever, contrary to, or inconsistent with +the same; And whereas during these troubles, there have occurred divers +things, in the making and pursuance of Leagues and Bonds, which may be +occasion of jealousie in and betwixt his Majesties Dominions of +Scotland, England, and Ireland. Therefore and for preventing of all +scruples, mistakes or jealousies that may hereafter arise upon these +grounds, The King's Majesty with advice and consent of His Estates of +Parliament, doth hereby Declare, that there is no Obligation upon this +Kingdom by Covenant, Treaties or otherwise, to endeavour by Armes a +Reformation of Religion in the Kingdom of England, or to meddle with the +publick Government and Administration of that Kingdom. And the King's +Majesty with advice and consent foresaid, doth Declare, That the League +and Covenant, and all Treaties following thereupon, and Acts or Deeds +that do, or may relate thereto, are not obligatory, nor do infer any +obligation upon this Kingdom, or the Subjects thereof, to meddle or +interpose by Armes, or any seditious way, in any thing concerning the +Religion and Government of the Churches of England and Ireland, or in +what may concern the Administration of His Majesties Government there. +And further, His Majesty, with advice and consent of his Estates, doth +hereby Discharge and Inhibite all His Majesties Subjects within this +Kingdom, that none of them may presume upon any pretext of any Authority +whatsoever, to require the renewing or swearing of the said League and +Covenant, or of any other Covenants, or publick Oaths concerning the +Government of the Church or Kingdom, without His Majesties special +Warrand and Approbation; And that none of His Majesties Subjects offer +to renew and swear the same, without His Majesties Warrand, as said is, +as they will be answerable at their highest peril." + + +SAME PARLIAMENT.--_15.--"Act Rescinding and Annulling the pretended +parliaments in the years 1640, 1641, etc._ + +"The Estates of Parliament, considering that the Peace and Happiness of +this Kingdom, and of His Majesties good subjects therein, doth depend +upon the Safetie of His Majesties Person, and the maintenance of His +Royal Authority, Power, and Greatness: And that all the miseries, +confusions, and disorders which this Kingdom hath groaned under, these +twenty-three years, have issued from, and been the necessarie and +natural products of these neglects, contempts, and invasions, which, in +and from the beginning of these troubles, were upon the specious (but +false) pretexts of Reformation (the common cloak of all rebellions) +offered unto the Sacred Person and Royal Authority of the King's +Majesty, and His Royal Father of blessed memory. And notwithstanding, +that by the Sacred Right, inherent to the Imperial Crown (which His +Majesty holds immediatelie from God Almightie alone) and by the ancient +constitution and fundamental Laws of the Kingdom; the power of +convocating and keeping Assemblies of the Subjects; the power of +Calling, Holding, Proroguing and Disolving of Parliaments, and making of +Laws; the power of entering into Bonds, Covenants, Leagues and Treaties; +the power of raising Armes, keeping of Strengths and Forts are Essential +parts, and inseparable privileges of the Royal Authoritie and +Prerogative of the Kings of this Kingdom: Yet, such hath been the +madness and delusion of these times, that even Religion itself, which +holds the Right of Kings to be Sacred and Inviolable, hath been +pretended unto, for warrand of these injurious Violations and +Incroachments, so publickly done and owned, upon and against His +Majesties just Power, Authority and Government; By making and keeping of +unlawful Meetings and Convocations of the People; By entering into +Covenants, Treaties and Leagues; By seizing upon, and possessing +themselves of His Majesties Castles, Forts and Strengths of the Kingdom: +and by Holding of Pretended Parliaments, making of Laws, and raising of +Armes for the maintaining of the same; and that not only without +warrand, but contrary to His Majesties express Commands. And although +the late King's Majesty, out of His meer grace and respects to this His +native Kingdom, and the peace and quiet of His people, and for +preventing the consequences which such bad example and practice might +occasion, to the disturbance of the peace of his other Kingdoms, was +pleased in the year, one thousand six hundred and forty one, to come +into this Countrey, and by his own presence, at their pretended +Parliaments and other wayes, to comply with, and give way to, many +things neerly concerning the undoubted Interest and Prerogative of the +Crown, expecting that such unparalleled Condescentions should have made +His Subjects ashamed of their former miscariages, and the very thoughts +thereof, to be hatefull to them and their posteritie for ever. Yet, such +was the prevalencie of the spirit of Rebelion that raged in manie for +the time, that not content with that peace and happiness which, even +above their desires, was secured to them: nor of these manie Grants of +honour and profit, by which His Majestie endeavoured to endear the most +desperat of them to their duty and obedience, they then, when His +Majesty had not left unto them anie pretence or shaddow of anie new +desire to be proposed, either concerning themselves or the Kingdom, did +most unworthilie engage to subvert His Majesties Government, and the +publick peace of the Kingdom of England: For which purpose, having +joined in a League with some there, they, for the better prosecution of +the same, did assume unto themselves the Royal Power, kept and held +Parliaments at their pleasure; by the pretended Authoritie of which, +they laid new exactions upon the people (which in one month did far +exceed what ever by the Kings Authoritie had been raised in a whole +year) levied Armes, sent out Edicts, requiring obedience unto their +unlawful demands; and with all manner of violence pursued such as out of +duty to His Majesties Authoritie opposed them by fines, confinements, +imprisonment, banishment, death, and forfeiture of their property; and +with their Armie thus raised, invaded His Majesties Kingdom of England, +and joyned with such as were in Arms against His Majestie there. And +thus maintaining their usurped power, and violently executing the same +against all Law, Conscience, Honour and Humanity, have made themselves +instruments of much loss, shame and dishonour to their native Countrey, +and have justly forfeited anie favour they might have pretended to, from +His Majesties former concessions. And forasmuch as now it hath pleased +Almighty God, by the power of His own right hand, so miraculously to +restore the Kings Majestie to the Government of his Kingdoms, and to the +exercise of His Royal Power, and Soveraigntie over the same, The Estates +of Parliament do conceive themselves obliged, in discharge of their +dutie and conscience to GOD and the Kings Majestie, to imploy all their +Power and interest, for vindicating His Majesties Authoritie from all +these violent invasions that have been made upon it, and so far as +possible to remove out of the way everything that may retain anie +remembrance of these things, which have been so injurious to His +Majestie and His Authoritie, so predjudicial and dishonourable to the +Kingdom, and destructive to all just and true interests within the same. +And considering that, besides the unlawfulness of the Publick Actings +during the troubles, most of the Acts in all and every of the Meetings +of these pretended Parliaments, do highly encroach upon, and are +destructive of that Sovereign Power, Authority, Prerogative, and Right +of Government, which by the law of GOD, and the ancient Laws and +Constitutions of this Kingdom, doth reside in, and belong unto, the +Kings Majestie, and do reflect upon the honour, loyaltie, and reputation +of this Kingdom; or are expired, and serve only as testimonies of +disloyaltie and reproach upon the Kingdom, and are unfit to be any +longer upon Record. Therefore the Kings Majestie and Estates of +Parliament do hereby Rescind and Annull the pretended Parliaments, kept +in the years one thousand six hundred and fourty, one thousand six +hundred and fourty one, one thousand six hundred and fourty four, one +thousand six hundred and fourty five, one thousand six hundred and +fourty six, one thousand six hundred and fourty seven, and one thousand +six hundred and fourty eight, and all Acts and Deeds past and done in +them, and Declares the same to be henceforth void and null. And His +Majesty, being unwilling to take any advantage of the failings of His +Subjects during these unhappy times, is resolved not to retain any +remembrance thereof, but that the same shall be held in everlasting +oblivion: and that all difference and animosities be forgotten, His good +subjects may in a happy union, under His Royal Government, enjoy that +happiness and peace, which His Majestie intends, and really wisheth unto +them as unto himself, doth therefore, by advice and consent of His +Estates of Parliament, grant His full assurance and indemnity to all +persons that acted in, or by virtue of the said pretended Parliaments, +and other Meetings flowing from the same, to be unquestioned in their +Lives or Fortunes, or any Deed or Deeds done by them in their said +usurpation, or by virtue of any pretended Authority derived therefrom, +excepting alwayes such as shall be excepted in a general Act of +Indemnity, to be past by His Majestie in this Parliament. And it is +hereby declared that all Acts, Rights and Securities, past in any of the +pretended Meetings above written, or by virtue thereof, in favours of +any particular persons for their civil and private interests shall stand +good and valid unto them, untill the same be taken into further +consideration, and determined in this, or the next Session of this +Parliament." + + + + +SECOND SESSION OF FIRST PARLIAMENT OF CHARLES II. + +Edinburgh, May, 1662.--_Act for preservation of His Majesties Person, +Authority and Government._ + + +The Estates of Parliament, taking into their consideration the miseries, +confusions, bondage and oppressions, this Kingdom hath groaned under +since the year, one thousand six hundred and thirty seven years, with +the causes and occasions thereof: Do, with all humble duty and +thankfulness, acknowledge His Majesties unparrallel'd grace and +goodness, in passing by the many miscarriages of His Subjects, and +restoring the Church and State to their ancient Liberties, Freedom, +Rights and Possessions; and the great Obligations thereby lying upon +them to express all possible care and zeal in the preservation of His +Majesties person, (in whose honour and happinesse consisteth the good +and welfare of His people) and in the security and establishment of His +Royal Authority and Government, against all such wicked attempts and +practices for the time to come. And, since the rise and progress of the +late troubles did, in a great measure, proceed from some treasonable and +seditious positions infused into the people. That it was lawfull to +Subjects for Reformation, to enter into Covenants and Leagues, or to +take up Arms against the King, or those Commissionated by Him, and +such-like: And that many Wilde and rebellious courses were taken and +practised in pursuance thereof, by unlawful meetings and gatherings of +the people, by mutinous and tumultuous petitions, by insolent and +seditious Protestations against His Majesties Royal and just commands, +by entering into unlawfull Oaths and Covenants, by usurping the name and +power of Council Tables and Church Judicatories, after they were by His +Majesty discharged, by treasonable Declarations, that His Majesty was +not to be admitted to the exercise of His Royal power, untill He should +grant their unjust desires and approve their wicked practices, by +rebellions rising in Arms against His Majestie and such as had +Commission from Him; And by the great countenance, allowance and +encouragement given to these pernicious courses by the multitude of +seditious Sermons, Libels, and Discourses, preached, printed and +published in defence thereof: And considering that as the present age is +not full freed of those distempers; so posterity may be apt to relapse +therein, if timous remeed be not provided. Therefore the King's Majestie +and Estates of Parliament do Declare that these positions, That it is +lawfull to Subjects, upon pretence of Reformation, or other pretence +whatsoever, to enter into Leagues and Covenants, or to take up arms +against the King; or that it is lawfull to subjects, pretending His +Majestys Authority, to take up Arms against His person or those +Commissionated by Him, or to suspend Him from the exercise of his Royal +Government, or to put limitations upon their due obedience and +allegiance, Are Rebellious and Treasonable, And that all these +Gatherings, Convocations, Petitions, Protestations, and Erecting and +keeping of Council-tables, that were used in the beginning, and for +carrying on, of the late troubles, were unlawful and seditious: And +particularly, that these Oaths, whereof the one was commonly called The +National Covenant, (as it was sworn and explained in the year one +thousand, six hundred and thirty-eight, and thereafter) and the other +entituled, A Solemn League and Covenant, were, and are in themselves +unlawful Oaths, and were taken by, and imposed upon, the Subjects of +this Kingdom, against the fundamental laws and liberties of the same; +and that there lyeth no obligation upon any of the Subjects from the +saids Oaths, or either of them, to endeavour any change or alteration of +Government either in Church or State; And therefore Annuls all Acts and +Constitutions, Ecclesiastical or Civil, approving the said pretended +National Covenant or League and Covenant, or making any interpretations +of the same or either of them. And also, it is hereby Declared by His +Majesty and Estates of Parliament, That the pretended assemblie kept at +Glasgow in the year one thousand six hundred and thirty eight, was in +itself (after the same was by His Majestie discharged, under the pain of +Treason) an unlawfull and seditious Meeting; and that all Acts, Deeds, +Sentences, Orders, or Decreets past therein, or by vertue of any +pretended Authority from the same, were in themselves from the +beginning, are now, and in all time coming, to be reputed unlawful, void +and null; And that all Ratifications or Confirmations of the same, past +by whatsoever Authority or in whatsoever Meetings, shall from henceforth +be void and null. Likeas, His Majesty and Estates of Parliament, +reflecting on the sad consequences of these rebellious courses, and +being carefull to prevent the like for the future, have therefore +Statute and Ordained, and by these presents Statutes and Ordains, that, +if any person or persons shall hereafter Plot, contrive or intend +destruction to the King's Majesty, or any bodily harm tending to death +or destruction, or any restraint upon his Royal Person, or to deprive, +depose, or suspend Him from the stile, Honour and Kingly Name of the +Imperial Crown of this Realm, or any others His Majesties Dominions, or +to suspend him from the exercise of His Royal Government, or to levy War +or take up Arms against His Majesty or any commissionated by Him, or +shall entice any strangers or others to invade any of His Majesties +Dominions; and shall by writing, printing, preaching or other malicious +and advised speaking, express or declare such their Treasonable +intentions, every such person or persons, being upon sufficient +probation legally convicted thereof, shall be deemed, declared and +adjudged Traitors, and shall suffer forfeiture of life, honour, lands, +and goods as in cases of high Treason. And further, it is by His Majesty +and Estates of Parliament Declared, Statute and Enacted, That if any +person or persons shall, by Writing, Printing, Praying, Preaching, +Libelling, Remonstrating, or by any malicious and advised speaking, +express, publish, or declare any words or sentences to stir up the +people to the hatred or dislike of His Majesties Royal Prerogative and +Supremacy in causes Ecclesiastick, or of the Government of the Church by +Archbishops and Bishops as it is now settled by Law, or to Justifie any +of the deeds, actings, practices or things above-mentioned and declared +against by this present Act: that every such person or persons so +offending, and being, as said is, Legally convicted thereof, are hereby +declared incapable to enjoy or exerce any place or imployment, Civil, +Ecclesiastical, or Military, within this Church and Kingdom, and shall +be lyable to such further pains as are due by the Law in such cases; +Provided alwayes, that no person be processed for any of the offences +aforesaid, contained in this Act, (other than these that are declared to +be high Treason) unless it be by order from His Majesty, or by order of +His Privy Council for the time; neither shall they incur any of the +penalties above-mentioned, unless they be pursued within eight Months +after the offence committed, and sentenced thereupon within four Months +after the intenting of the Process. And it is also Declared, that if His +Majesty grant His pardon to any person convicted for any of the offences +contained in this present Act; after such pardon, the party pardoned +shall be restored to all intents and purposes, as if he had never been +pursued nor convicted any thing in this Act to the contrary, +notwithstanding. + + + + +THE TORWOOD EXCOMMUNICATION.[17] + + +After public worship, Mr. Cargill proceeded thus:--We have now spoken of +excommunication, of the nature, subject, causes, and ends thereof. We +shall now proceed to the action itself, being constrained by the +conscience of our duty, and by zeal for God, to excommunicate some of +those who have been the committers of such great crimes, and authors of +the great mischiefs of Britain and Ireland, but especially those of +Scotland. In doing this, we shall keep the names by which they are +ordinarily called, that they may be better known. + +I, being a minister of Jesus Christ, and having authority and power from +Him, do, in His name and by His Spirit, excommunicate and cast out of +the true Church, and deliver up to Satan, Charles II., king, etc., and +that upon the account of these wickednesses:-- + +1st, For his high contempt of God, in regard that after he had +acknowledged his own sins, his father's sins, his mother's idolatry, and +had solemnly engaged against them in a declaration at Dunfermline, the +16th of August, 1650, he hath, notwithstanding all this, gone on more +avowedly in these sins than all that went before him. + +2ndly, For his great perjury in regard that, after he had twice at least +solemnly subscribed that covenant, he did so presumptuously renounce, +and disown, and command it to be burnt by the hands of the hangman. + +3rdly, Because he hath rescinded all the laws for establishing that +religion and reformation engaged unto in that covenant, and enacted laws +for establishing its contrary; and also is still working for the +introduction of Popery into these lands. And + +4thly, For commanding armies to destroy the Lord's people, who were +standing in their own just defence, and for their privileges and rights, +against tyranny, and oppression and injuries of men, and for the blood +he hath shed on fields, and scaffolds, and seas, of the people of God, +upon account of religion and righteousness (they being willing in all +other things to render him obedience, if he had reigned and ruled +according to his covenant and oath), more than all the kings that have +been before him in Scotland. + +5thly, That he hath been still an enemy to, and persecutor of, the true +Protestants; a favourer and helper of the Papists, both at home and +abroad; and hath, to the utmost of his power, hindered the due execution +of the laws against them. + +6thly, For his bringing guilt upon the kingdom, by his frequent grants +of remissions and pardons to murderers (though it is in the power of no +king to pardon murder, being expressly contrary to the law of God), an +indulgence which is the only way to embolden men to commit murders, to +the defiling of the land with blood. And + +Lastly, To pass by all other things, his great and dreadful uncleanness +of adultery and incest, his drunkenness, his dissembling both with God +and men, and performing his promises, where his engagements were sinful. +Next, + +By the same authority, and in the same name, I excommunicate and cast +out of the true Church, and deliver up unto Satan, James, Duke of York, +and that for his idolatry (for I shall not speak of any other sin but +what hath been perpetrated by him in Scotland), and for setting up +idolatry in Scotland to defile the Lord's land, and for his enticing and +encouraging to do so. Next, + +In the same name, and by the same authority, I excommunicate and cast +out of the true Church, and deliver up unto Satan, James, Duke of +Monmouth, for coming unto Scotland at his father's unjust command, and +leading armies against the Lord's people, who were constrained to rise, +being killed in and for the worshipping of the true God, and for +refusing, that morning, a cessation of arms at Bothwell Bridge, for +hearing and redressing their injuries, wrongs and oppressions. Next, + +I do, by virtue of the same authority, and in the same name, +excommunicate and cast out of the true Church, and deliver up unto +Satan, John, Duke of Lauderdale, for his dreadful blasphemy, especially +for that word to the Prelate of St. Andrews, "Sit thou at my right hand, +until I make thine enemies thy footstool;" his atheistical drolling on +the Scriptures of God, and scoffing at religion and religious persons; +his apostasy from the covenants and reformation, and his persecuting +thereof, after he had been a professor, pleader, and presser thereof; +for his perjury in the business of Mr. James Mitchell, who being in +Council gave public faith that he should be indemnified, and that, to +life and limb, if he would confess his attempt on the Prelate; and +notwithstanding this, before the Justiciary Court, did give his oath +that there was no such act in Council; for his adultery and uncleanness; +for his counselling and assisting the king in all his tyrannies, +overturning and plotting against the true religion; for his gaming on +the Lord's day, and lastly for his usual and ordinary swearing. Next, + +I do, by virtue of the same authority, and in the same name, +excommunicate, cast out of the true Church, and deliver up to Satan, +John, Duke of Rothes, for his perjury in the matter of Mr. James +Mitchell; for his adulteries and uncleanness; for his allotting of the +Lord's day to his drunkenness; for his professing and avowing his +readiness and willingness to set up Popery in this land at the king's +command: and for the heathenish, and barbarous and unheard of cruelty +(whereof he was the chief author, contriver, and commander, +notwithstanding his having engaged otherwise), to that worthy +gentleman, David Hackstoun of Rathillet, and lastly, for his ordinary +cursing, swearing, and drunkenness. And, + +I do, by virtue of the same authority, and in the same name, +excommunicate, and cast out of the true Church and deliver up to Satan, +Sir George M'Kenzie, the King's Advocate, for his apostasy in turning +into a profligacy of conversation, after he had begun a profession of +holiness; for his constant pleading against, and persecuting unto the +death, the people of God, and for alleging and laying to their charge +things which in his conscience he knew to be against the word of God, +truth and right reason, and the ancient laws of this kingdom; for his +pleading for sorcerers, murderers, and other criminals, that before God +and by the laws of the land ought to die, and for his ungodly, +erroneous, fantastic, and blasphemous tenets printed in his pamphlets +and pasquils. And, + +Lastly, I do by virtue of the same authority, and in the same name, +excommunicate, and cast out of the true Church, and deliver up to Satan, +Dalziell of Binns, for his leading armies, and commanding the killing, +robbing, pillaging and oppressing of the Lord's people, and free +subjects of this kingdom; for executing lawless tyrannies and lustful +laws; for his commanding to shoot one Findlay at a post at Newmills, +without any form of law, civil or military (he not being guilty of +anything which they themselves accounted a crime); for his lewd and +impious life, led in adultery and uncleanness from his youth, with a +contempt for marriage, which is an ordinance of God; for all his +atheistical and irreligious conversation, and lastly, for his unjust +usurping and retaining of the estate of that worthy gentleman, William +Mure of Caldwell, and his other injurious deeds in the exercise of his +power. + +Now I think, none that acknowledge the word of God, can judge these +sentences to be unjust; yet some, it may be, to flatter the powers, +will call them disorderly and informal, there not being warning given, +nor probation led. But for answer: there has been warning given, if not +with regard to all these, at least with regard to a great part of them. +And, for probation, there needs none, their deeds being notour and +public, and the most of them such as themselves do avow and boast of. +And as the causes are just, so, being done by a minister of the Gospel, +and in such a way as the present persecution would admit of, the +sentence is just, and there is no king, nor minister on earth, without +repentance of the persons, can lawfully reverse these sentences upon any +such account. God being the Author of these ordinances to the ratifying +of them, all that acknowledge the Scriptures of truth, ought to +acknowledge them. Yet perchance, some will think that though they be not +unjust, yet that they are foolishly rigorous. We shall answer nothing to +this, but that word which we speak with much more reason than they that +first used it, "Should he deal with our sister, as with an harlot?" +Should they deal with our God as an idol? Should they deal with His +people as murderers and malefactors, and we not draw out His sword +against them? + + + + +ACT AGAINST CONVENTICLES.[18] + + +Forasmuch as the assembling and convocating of his majesty's subjects, +without his majesty's warrant and authority, is a most dangerous and +unlawful practice, prohibit and discharged by several laws and acts of +parliament, under high and great pains: and that notwithstanding +thereof, diverse disaffected and seditious persons, under the specious +but false pretences of religion and religious exercises, presume to +make, and be present at conventicles and unwarrantable meetings and +conventions of the subjects, which are the ordinary seminaries of +separation and rebellion, tending to the prejudice of the public worship +of God in the churches, to the scandal of the reformed religion, to the +reproach of his majesty's authority and government, and to the +alienating of the hearts and affections of the subjects from that duty +and obedience they owe to his majesty, and the public laws of kingdom. +For the suppressing and preventing of which for the time to come, his +majesty, with advice and consent of his estates of parliament, hath +thought fit to statute and enact, likeas they do hereby statute and +command, that no outed ministers who are not licensed by the council, +and no other persons not authorized, or tolerate by the bishop of the +diocese, presume to preach, expound scripture, or pray in any meeting, +except in their own houses, and to those of their own family; and that +none be present at any meeting, without the family to which they belong, +where any not licensed, authorized, nor tolerate as said is, shall +preach, expound scripture, or pray: declaring hereby, all such who shall +do in the contrary, to be guilty of keeping of conventicles; and that +he, or they, who shall so preach, expound, or pray, within any house, +shall be seized upon and imprisoned, till they find caution, under the +pain of five thousand merks, not to do the like thereafter, or else +enact themselves to remove out of the kingdom, and never return without +his majesty's license; and that every person who shall be found to have +been present at any such meetings, shall be _toties quoties_, fined +according to their qualities, in the respective sums following, and +imprisoned until they pay their fines, and further, during the council's +pleasure, viz., each man or woman, having land in heritage, life-rent, +or proper wadset, to be lined in a fourth part of his or her valued +yearly rent; each tenant labouring land, in twenty-five pounds Scots; +each cottar, in twelve pounds Scots, and each serving man, in a fourth +part of his yearly fee: and where merchants or tradesmen do not belong +to, or reside within burghs royal, that each merchant or chief tradesman +be fined as a tenant, and each inferior tradesman as a cottar: and if +any of the persons above-mentioned shall have their wives, or any of +their children living in family with them, present at any such meeting, +they are therefore to be fined in the half of the respective fines +aforesaid, consideration being had to their several qualities and +conditions. And if the master or mistress of any family, where any such +meetings shall be kept, be present within the house for the time, they +are to be fined in the double of what is to be paid by them, for being +present at a house conventicle. And it is hereby declared, that +magistrates of burghs royal are liable, for every conventicle to be kept +within their burghs, to such fines as his majesty's council shall think +fit to impose; and that the master or mistress of the house where the +conventicle shall happen to be kept, and the persons present thereat, +are to relieve the magistrates, as the council shall think fit to order +the same; it being notwithstanding free to the council to fine the +inhabitants of burghs for being present at conventicles within or +without burghs, or where their wives or children shall be present at the +same. + +And further, his majesty understanding that divers disaffected persons +have been so maliciously wicked and disloyal, as to convocate his +majesty's subjects to open meetings in the fields, expressly contrary to +many public laws made thereanent, and considering that these meetings +are the rendezvouses of rebellion, and tend in a high measure to the +disturbance of the public peace, doth therefore, with advice and consent +foresaid, statute and declare, that whosoever, without license or +authority foresaid, shall preach, expound scripture, or pray, at any of +those meetings in the field, or in any house where there be more +persons than the house contains, so as some of them be without doors +(which is hereby declared to be a field conventicle) or who shall +convocate any number of people to these meetings, shall be punished with +death, and confiscation of their goods. And it is hereby offered and +assured, that if any of his majesty's good subjects shall seize and +secure the persons of any who shall either preach or pray at these +field-meetings, or convocate any persons thereto, they shall, for every +such person so seized and secured, have five hundred merks paid unto +them for their reward, out of his majesty's treasury, by the +commissioners thereof, who are hereby authorised to pay the same; and +the said seizers and their assistants are hereby indemnified for any +slaughter that shall be committed in the apprehending and securing of +them. And, as to all heritors and others aforesaid, who shall be present +at any of these field-conventicles, it is hereby declared, they are to +be fined, _toties quoties_, in the double of the respective fines +appointed for house conventicles; but prejudice of any other punishment +due to them by law as seditious persons and disturbers of the peace and +quiet of the kirk and kingdom. + +And, seeing the due execution of laws is the readiest means to procure +obedience to the same; therefore, his majesty, with consent and advice +foresaid, doth empower, warrant, and command all sheriffs, stewarts of +stewartries, lords of regalities, and their deputes, to call before +them, and try all such persons who shall be informed to have kept, or +been present at, conventicles within their jurisdictions, and to inflict +upon these who shall be found guilty, the respective fines exprest in +this act; they being always countable to the commissioners of his +majesty's treasury, for the fines of all heritors within their bounds. +And his majesty, for the encouragement of the said sheriffs, stewarts, +and lords of regalities, to be careful and diligent in their duties +therein, doth allow to themselves all the fines of any persons within +their jurisdictions, under the degree of heritors; and requires the +lords of his majesty's privy council to take exact trial of their care +and diligence herein; and if the sheriffs, stewarts, and bailiffs, be +negligent in their duties, or if the magistrates within burghs shall be +negligent in their utmost diligence, to detect and delate to the council +all conventicles within their burghs, that the council inflict such +censures and punishments upon them as they shall think fit. And the +lords of his majesty's privy council are hereby required to be careful +in the trial of all field and house-conventicles kept since the first +day of October, one thousand six hundred and sixty-nine, and before the +date hereof, and that they punish the same conform to the laws and acts +of state formerly made thereanent. And lastly, his majesty, being +hopeful that his subjects will give such cheerful obedience to the laws +as there shall not be long use of this act, hath therefore, with advice +foresaid, declared that the endurance thereof shall only be for three +years, unless his majesty shall think fit that it continue longer. + + + + +THE SANQUHAR DECLARATION.[19] + + +It is not amongst the smallest of the Lord's mercies to this poor land +that there have been always some who have given their testimony against +every course of defection, (that many are guilty of) which is a token +for good, that He doth not as yet intend to cast us off altogether, but +that He will leave a remnant in whom He will he glorious, if they, +through His grace, keep themselves clean still, and walk in His way and +method, as it has been walked in and owned by Him in our predecessors of +truly worthy memory, in their carrying on of our noble work of +reformation in the several steps thereof, from popery, prelacy, and +likewise Erastian supremacy, so much usurped by him, who (it is true so +far as we know) is descended from the race of our kings, yet he hath so +far deborded from what he ought to have been, by his perjury and +usurpation in Church matters, and tyranny in matters civil, as is known +by the whole land, that we have just reason to account it one of the +Lord's great controversies against us, that we have not disowned him and +the men of his practices, (whether inferior magistrates or any other) as +enemies to our Lord and His crown, and the true Protestant and +Presbyterian interest in thir lands, our Lord's espoused bride and +Church. Therefore, although we be for government and governors such as +the Word of our God and our Covenant allows, yet we for ourselves and +all that will adhere to us as the representatives of the true +Presbyterian Kirk and Covenanted nation of Scotland, considering the +great hazard of lying under such a sin any longer, do by thir presents +disown Charles Stuart, that has been reigning (or rather tyrannizing as +we may say) on the throne of Britain these years bygone, as having any +right, title to, or interest in, the said Crown of Scotland for +government, as forfeited several years since, by his perjury and breach +of covenant both to God and His Kirk, and usurpation of His crown and +royal prerogatives therein, and many other breaches in matters +ecclesiastic, and by his tyranny and breach of the very _leges regnandi_ +in matters civil. For which reason we declare, that several years since +he should have been denuded of being king, ruler, or magistrate, or of +having any power to act, or to be obeyed as such. As also, we, being +under the standard of our Lord Jesus Christ, Captain of Salvation, do +declare a war with such a tyrant and usurper, and all the men of his +practices, as enemies to our Lord Jesus Christ and His cause and +covenants; and against all such as have strengthened him, sided with, or +any wise acknowledged him in his tyranny, civil or ecclesiastic, yea, +against all such as shall strengthen, side with, or any wise acknowledge +any other in the like usurpation and tyranny, far more against such as +would betray or deliver up our free reformed mother-kirk unto the +bondage of antichrist, the Pope of Rome. And by this we homologate that +testimony given at Rutherglen, the 29th of May, 1679, and all the +faithful testimonies of these who have gone before, as also of these who +have suffered of late. And we do disclaim that Declaration published at +Hamilton, June, 1679, chiefly because it takes in the king's interest, +which we are several years since loosed from, because of the foresaid +reasons, and others, which may after this (if the Lord will) be +published. As also we disown, and by this resent the reception of the +Duke of York, that professed papist, as repugnant to our principles and +vows to the Most High God, and as that which is the great, though not +alone, just reproach of our Kirk and nation. We also by this protest +against his succeeding to the crown; and whatever has been done, or any +are essaying to do in this land (given to the Lord), in prejudice to our +work of reformation. And to conclude, we hope after this none will blame +us for, or offend at our rewarding these that are against us as they +have done to us as the Lord gives opportunity. This is not to exclude +any that have declined, if they be willing to give satisfaction +according to the degree of their offence. + +_Given at Sanquhar, June 22nd, 1680._ + + + + +PROTESTATION AGAINST THE UNION.[20] + + +It will, no doubt, be reputed by many very unseasonable to protest at +this time, against this Union, now so far advanced and by their law +established; but the consideration of the superabundant, palpable and +eminent sins, hazards, and destructions to religion, laws, and liberties +that are in it, and natively attend it, is such a pressing motive, that +we can do no less, for the exoneration of our consciences in shewing our +dislike of the same, before the sitting down of the British Parliament, +lest our silence should be altogether interpreted, either a direct or +indirect owning of, or succumbing to the same: and though, having +abundantly and plainly declared our principles formerly, and +particularly in our last declaration, May 21, 1703, against the then +intended Union; and waiting for more plain discovery of dissatisfaction +with, and opposition unto this abominable course, by these of better +capacitie, yet being herein so far disappointed in our expectations of +such honourable and commendable appearances, for the laudable laws, and +antient constitutions of this kingdom, both as to sacred and civil +concerns, all these appearances, whither by addresses or protestations +being so far lame and defective, as that the resolutions and purposes of +such have never been fairly and freely remonstrat to the contrivers, +promoters and establishers of this Union. The consideration of which, +and the lamentable case and condition the land already is, and may be +in, by reason of the same, hath moved us, after the example and in +imitation of the cloud of witnesses who have gone before us, to protest +against the same, as being contrar to the Word of God, and repugnant to +our former Union with England in the terms of the Solemn League and +Covenant. + +And whereas it hath been the good will and pleasure of Almighty God, to +grant unto this nation a glorious and blessed reformation of the true +Christian religion, from the errors, idolatry, and superstition of +popery and prelacy, and there withall to bless us with the power and +purity of heavenly doctrine, worship, discipline, and government in the +Church of God, according to His will revealed in the Holy Scriptures; +and to let us have all this accompanyed and attended with many great and +singular blessings, in the conversion and comfort of many thousands, and +in reforming and purging the land from that gross ignorance, rudeness +and barbarity, that once prevailed among us. Wherefore our zealous and +worthy forefathers, being convinced of the benefit and excellency of +such incomparable and unvaluable mercies, thought it their duty, not +only by all means to endeavour the preservation of these, but also to +transmit to posterity a fair _depositum_ and copy in purity and +integrity, and as a fit expedient and mean to accomplish and perfect the +same, they entered into the National Covenant (no rank or degree of +persons, from the highest to the lowest excepted) wherein they bound +themselves to defend the reformation of religion in every part and point +of the same, with their lives and fortunes to the outmost of their +power, as may be seen in the National Covenant of this Church and +kingdom, which was five times solemnly sworn. + +Likeas the Lord was so pleased to bless our land, and to beautify it +with His presence, that our neighbour nations of England and Ireland, +who beheld this, and were groaning under and likeways aiming at the +removal and abolishing of popery and prelacy, had sought and obtained +assistance from this nation to help them in their endeavours for that +end, and had been owned of God with success, they likeways thought it +fit to enter into a most Solemn League and Covenant with this Church and +kingdom for reformation and defence of religion, wherein, with their +hands lifted up to the most High God, they do bind and oblige themselves +to maintain, preserve and defend, whatever measure and degree of +reformation they had attained unto, and mutually to concurr, each with +another with their lives and fortunes in their several places and +callings, in opposition to all the enemies of the same, as may be seen +at large in the Solemn League and Covenant. By means of which, these +nations became (as it were) dedicated and devoted to God in a peculiar +and singular manner, above all other people in the world and that by an +indisolvable and indispensable obligation to perform, observe and +fulfill the duties sworn too, and contained therein, from which no power +on earth can absolve us. And so to prosecute and carry on the ends of +the same, and to evidence our firm adherance to it, with the outmost of +our endeavours, in opposition to every thing contradictory or contrar +unto or exclusive of these our sacred vows. We have from time to time +for these several years bypast, emitted and published several +declarations and publick testimonies against the breaches of the same, +as is evident not only from our declarations of late, but also from all +the wrestlings and contendings of the faithful in former times, all +which we here adhere to, approve of, and homologate, as they are founded +upon the Word of God and are agreeable thereto. + +And in this juncture to perpetuat and transmit to posterity the +testimony of this Church, and to acquit ourselves as faithful to God, +and zealous for the concerns of religion, and every thing that's dear to +us as men and Christians. We here testify and protest against the +prompters to, promoters or establishers of, and against every thing that +hath tended to the promoting, advancing, corroborating, or by law +establishing such a wicked and ruining Union; and hereby we also declare +against the validity of the proceedings of the late Parliament with +reference to the carrying on, and establishing the said Union; and that +their acts shall not be look't upon as obligatory to us, nor ought to be +by posterity, nor any way prejudicial to the cause of God, and the +covenanted work of reformation in this Church, nor to the beeing, +liberty, and freedom of Parliaments, according to the laudable and +antient pratique of this kingdom, the which we do not only for +ourselves, but also in the name of all such as shall join or concurr +with us in this our protestation, and therefore we Protest. + +In regard, That the said Union is a visible and plain subversion of the +fundamental antient constitutions, laws and liberties of this kingdom, +which we as a free people have enjoyed for the space of about two +thousand years, without ever being fully conquered, and we have had +singular and remarkable stepts of Providence preventing our utter +sinking, and preserving us from such a deludge and overthrow, which some +other nations more mighty and opulent than we, have felt, and whose +memory is much extinct: while by this incorporating Union with England +in their sinful terms, this nation is debased and enslaved, its antient +independency lost and gone, the parliamentary power dissolved which was +the very strength, bulwork and basis of all liberties and priviledges of +persons of all ranks, of all manner of courts and judicatories, +corporations and societies within this kingdom; all which, now, must be +at the disposal and discreation of the British Parliament, (to which, by +this Union, this nation must be brought to full subjection) and furder +the number of peers, who have many times ventured their lives for the +interest of their country, having reputation and success at home and +were famous and formidable abroad: and the number of barons and burrows +famous sometime, for courage and zeal for the interest of their country +(and, more especially in our reforming times) all these, reduced to such +an insignificant and small number in the Brittish Parliament, we say, +(as is also evident from the many protestations given in to the late +Parliament against this Union) how far it is contrary to the honour, +interest, foundamental laws, and constitutions of this kingdom, and a +palpable surrender of the soveraignity, rights and priviledges of the +nation; and how by this surrender of parliament and soveraignity the +people are deprived and denuded of all security, as to any thing that's +agreed to by this Union, and all that's dear to them, is daily in danger +to be encroached upon, altered or subverted by the said Brittish +Parliament, managed intirely by the English, who seldom have consulted +our well-fare, but rather have sought opportunity to injure us, and are +now put in a greater capacity with more ease to act to our prejudice: +and poor people to be made lyable to taxes, levies and unsupportable +burdens, and many other imminent hazards and impositions, all which we +here protest against. + +As also that which is little considered (tho' most lamentable), how the +foundamental constitutions should be altered, subverted, and overturned, +not only, _renitente and reclamante populo_, but also by such men, who, +if the righteous and standing laws of the nation were put in execution, +are uncapable of having any vote or suffrage in any judicatory; seeing +the Covenants National and Solemn League, which had the assent and +concurrence of the three estates of Parliament, and the sanction of the +civil law, cordially and harmoniously assenting to, complying with, and +coroborrating the acts and canons of ecclesiastick courts in favour of +these covenants, whereby they became the foundation whence any had right +to reign or govern in this land, and also became the foundation, +limitation, and constitution of the government and succession to the +crown of this realm, and the qualification of all magistrats supreame, +and subordinate, and of all officers in church, state, or army, and +likewise the ground and condition of the peoples obedience and +subjection, as may be seen in the acts, laws, and practise of these +times: witness the admission of Charles II. to the government, _Anno_ +1651. From all which it is evident how blind such men have been, who not +only have enslaved the nation, but have rendered themselves unfamous by +such an open and manifest violation of these solemn and sacred vows to +the most High God, to the obligation of which they as well as the rest +of the land, are indispensibly bound. + +But ah! when we mention these Covenants, how notorious and palpable is +the breach of, and indignity done to these solemn vows by this sinful +Union, by means whereof they come to be buried in perpetual oblivion, +and all means for prosecuting their ends are so blockt up by this +incorporating Union with England, as that what ever is or may be done or +acted contrair thereunto, or in prejudice thereof by any of the enemies +of the same, cannot be remeided in a due and impartial exercise of +church discipline, and execution of the laws of the land against such +transgressors. And if we would open our eyes and consider a little with +reference to our national Covenant, we may clearly see that this +incorporating Union is directly contrar to that particular oath and vow +made to God by us in this kingdom, which we are obliged to fulfill and +perform in a national state and capacity, as we are a particular nation +by ourselves, distinct in the constitution of our government and laws +from these of England, and from all others: But now when we cease to be +a particular nation, we being no way distinct from that of England +(which is the very genuine and inevitable effect of this Union) how then +can we keep our national vows to God, when we shall not be a particular +nation, but only (by means of this incorporating Union) made a part of +another nation, whose government is manag'd, as is very well known, in +many things directly contrar to what is contained in this national +Covenant of this land; though we have charity to believe, there shall +multitudes be found in the land who will grant and acknowledge +themselves bound to the observation of that oath by an indispensibility, +which no power on earth can disolve. + +And what a palpable breach is this wicked Union of our Solemn League and +Covenant, which was made and sworn with uplifted hands to the most High +God, for purging and reforming His house in these three nations from +error, heresie, superstition and profaneness, and whatever is contrar to +sound and pure doctrine, worship, discipline, and government in the +same: And so it involves this nation in most fearful perjury before God, +being contrar to the very first article of the Covenant wherein we swear +to contribute our outmost endeavours in our several places and callings +to reform England in doctrine, worship, discipline, and government; but +by this Union both we and they are bound up for ever from all endeavours +and attempts of this nature, and have put ourselves out of a capacity to +give any help or assistance that way; But on the contrar they came to be +hardened in their deformation, impious and superstitious courses. And +how far contrar to the second article, where we solemnly abjure prelacy +for ever, when by this Union, prelacy comes for ever to be established +and settled on the surest and strongest foundations imaginable, as is +evident from the ratification of the articles in the English Parliament, +with the exemplification of the same in the Scots Parliament, where the +prelatick government in England is made a foundamental article of the +Union: so it is also impossible for us to fulfill the other part of that +article, where we forswear schism, which a legal tolleration of errors +will infer and fix among us, as the native result and inevitable +consequence of this Union; and how far this is contrar to the Word of +God, and to our covenants, any considering person may decern. As to the +third article, any may see how far it is impossible for us to preserve +the rights, liberties, and priviledges of Parliament and kingdom, when +divested both of our Parliaments and liberties in a distinct national +way, or yet as according to the same article, where we are obliged to +maintain and defend the king, his majesty's person and government in +defence and preservation of the true religion; how can it be supposed, +that we can answer our obligation to this part of the Covenant, when a +corrupt religion is established, as is by this Union already done, when +prelatick government is made a foundamental thereof. And it is a clear +breach of the fourth article of the Solemn League and Covenant, where we +swear to oppose all malignants and hinderers of reformation and +religion, and yet by this Union, the prelats, who themselves are the +very malignants and enemies to all further reformation in religion are +hereby settled and secured in all their places of power and dignity, +without the least appearance or ground of expectation of any alteration +for ever. + +How offensive and displeasing unto God this accursed Union is, may be +further evident by its involving this land in a sinful conjunction and +association with prelats, malignants, and many other enemies to God and +Godliness, and stated adversaries to our reformation of religion and +sworn-to principles in our Covenants National and Solemn League, and +particularly as this Union imbodys and units us in this land in the +strickest conjunction and association with England, a land so deeply +already involved in the breach of Covenant, and pestered with so many +sectaries, errors and abominable practices, and joins us in issue and +interest with these that are tollerators, maintainers and defenders of +these errors, which the Word of God strictly prohibits, and our sacred +Covenants plainly and expressly abjures. And further, how far and +deeply it ingages this land in a confedracy and association with God's +enemies at home and abroad in their expeditions and counsels; a course +so often prohibeted by God in His word, and visibly pleagued in many +remarkable instances of providences, as may be seen both in sacred and +historical records, and the unlawfulness thereof, on just and scriptural +grounds, demonstrate by famous divines, even of our own Church and +nation, and set down as a cause of God's wrath against this Church and +kingdom. And how detestable must such an Union be, whose native tendency +leads to wear off, from the dissenting party in England, all sight, +sense, consideration and belief of the indispensibility of the Solemn +League, and hardening enemies in their opposition to it, and these of +all ranks in the habitual breach of it: yea also, how shamefully it +leads to the obliterating and extinguishing all the acts of parliaments +and assemblies made in favours of these covenants and reformation, +especially between 1638 and 1649 inclusive. And not only so, but to a +trampling on all the blood of martyrs during the late tyrannical reigns, +and a plain burying of all the testimonies of the suffering and +contending party in this land, in their firm, faithful and constant +adherance to the covenanted work of reformation, and their declarations, +protestations, and wrestlings against all the indignities done unto, and +usurpations made upon the royal crown and prerogative of the Mediator, +and all the priviledges and instrinsick rights of this Church; we say, +not only burying these in perpetual oblivion by this cope-stone of the +land's sins and defections, but also opposing and condemning these as +matters of the least concern and trivial, as not being worthy of the +contending and suffering for, whereby these who ventured their lives and +their all, may be reputed to have dyed as fools, and suffered justly. + +We cannot here omit also to declare and testify against the +constitution of the British Parliament, not only upon the consideration +of the foresaid grounds and reasons, but also upon the account of the +sinful mixture and unlawful admission of bishops and churchmen, to have +a share in the legislative power, or in any place in civil courts or +affairs, and thereto act or vote forensically in civil matters, a thing +expressly forbidden and discharged by Christ the only Head and Lord of +His own house, whose Kingdom, as Mediator, is not of this world, but +purely spiritual; and so the officers in His house must be spiritual; so +that the civil power of Church men is a thing inconsistent and +incompatible with that sacred and spiritual function. Upon which +consideration, how palpable a sin will it be to subject to, or accept of +any oath that may be imposed by the said British Parliament, for the +maintenance and support of such an Union, or for recognoseing, owning +and acknowledging the authority of the said Parliament, and that because +of our swearing, and promising subjection to the said Parliament, we do +thereby homologate the foresaid sinful constitution, and swear, and +promise subjection to the bishops of England who are a considerable part +of that Parliament, and so we shall be bound and oblidged to maintain +and uphold them in their places, dignities, and offices, which is +contrar to the Word of God and our covenants, while the very first +article of the Solemn League oblidges us to endeavour the reformation of +the religion in the kingdom of England, in doctrine, worship, +discipline, and government, according to the Word of God, as well as in +Scotland. And it is very well known that the government of bishops is +not according to the Word of God, but contrar to it, and likeways +contrar the second article of the Solemn League whereby we are obliged +to the extirpation of prelacy, that is, church government by +archbishops, bishops, &c., which we will be obliged by such an oath to +maintain and defend. And besides, from the consideration of the person +that by the patrons and establishes of this Union, and by the second +article of the Union itself, is nominated and designed to succeed after +the decease of the present Queen Anne, in the government of these +nations, to wit the Prince of Hanover, who hath been bred and brought up +in the Luthren religion, which is not only different from, but even in +many things contrar unto that purity, in doctrine, reformation, and +religion, we in these nations had attained unto, as is very well known. +Now, the admitting such a person to reign over us, is not only contrar +to our Solemn League and Covenant, but to the very Word of God itself; +requiring and commanding one from among their brethren, and not a +stranger who is not a brother, to be set over them: whereby undoubtedly +is understood, not only such who were of consanguinity with the people +of the land, but even such as served and worshipped the God of Israel; +and not any other, and that in the true and perfect way of worshipping +and serving Him, which He Himself hath appointed, as they then did, to +which this intended succession is quite contrary. And besides this, he +is to be solemnly engaged and sworn to the prelats of England, to +maintain, protect, and defend them in all their dignities, dominion, and +revenues, to the preventing and excluding all reformation out of these +nations for ever. + +And upon the like and other weighty reasons and considerations (as +popish education, conversation, etc.) We protest against, and disown the +pretended Prince of Wales from having any just right to rule or govern +these nations, or to be admitted to the Government thereof: and whereas +(as is reported) we are maliciously aspersed by these who profess +themselves of the Presbyterian perswasion, especially the Laodicean +preachers, that we should be accessory to the advancement of him whom +they call the Prince of Wales to the throne of Britain: Therefore to let +all concerned be fully assured of the contrary, We protest and testifie +against all such so principled to have any right to rule in thir lands, +because we look upon all such to be standing in a stated opposition to +God and our covenanted work of reformation. Not that we contemn, deny or +reject civil government and governours (as our former declared +principles to the world make evident) but are willing to maintain, own, +defend and subject to all such governours as shall be admitted according +to our Covenants, and laws of the nation, and act in defence of our +covenanted work of reformation, and in defence of the nations ancient +liberties and priviledges, according to the laudable laws and practique +of this kingdom. + +And further, We cannot but detest, abominate and abhor, and likeways +protest against the vast and unlimitted tolleration of error and +sectaries, which, as a necessary and native consequence of this Union, +will inevitably follow thereupon, and whereby a plain and patent way is +laid open for these errors, which will certainly have a bad influence +upon all the parts, pieces, and branches of the reformation, both in +doctrine, worship, discipline, and government, yea even upon the most +momentuous and fundamental articles of the Christian faith: For hereby +Anabaptists, Erastians, Socinians, Arminians, Quakers, Theists, +Atheists, and Libertines of all kinds, with many others (which abound +and swarm in that land) will come crouding and thronging in among us, +venting and vomiting up their damnable and hellish tenets and errors to +the destruction of souls, and great dishonour of God in many respects, +and that without any check or control by civil authority, as is evident +from the present practice of England, as having gotten full and free +libertie for all this by means of this accursed Union. How then ought +not every one to be affrayed, when incorporating themselves with such a +people so exposed to the fearful and tremendous judgments of God, +because of such gross impieties and immoralities (not that our land is +free of such hainous wickednesses as may draw down a judgment, but there +these evils are to a degree) for what unparalelled, universal, national +perjury is that land guilty of, both toward God and man (though there +were no more) by the breach of the Solemn League and Covenant that they +once made with this nation, for the defence and reformation of religion: +but also what abominable lasciviousness, licentiousness, luxury, +arrogancy, impiety, pride and insolence, together with the vilest of +whoredoms, avowed breach of Sabbath, and most dreadful blasphemies, yea, +the contempt of all that's sacred and holy; gets liberty to reign and +predomine without check or challenge, so that joining with such people, +cannot but expose us, as well as them, to the just judgment of God, +while continuing in these sins. + +And here we cannot pass by the unfaithfulness of the present ministers +(not that we judge all of them to be cast in the same ballance) who at +the first beginning of this work seemed to be so zealously set against +it, and that both in their speeches, sermons and discourses (which was +duty). But yet in a very little after flinched from, and became +generally so dumb, silent, indifferent or ambiguous to the admiration of +many, so that people knew not what to construct. + +But from what cause or motive they were so influenced, they know best +themselves: Sure their duty both to God and man was, to shew and declare +how shameful, hurtful, and highly sinful this course was as so +circumstantiat. And if ministers faithfulness and zeal to the concerns +of Christ had led them to such freedom and plainness, as was duty in +such a matter, and had discovered how contrary this Union was to the +fundamental laws and sworn principles, by all probability they might +have had such influence as to stop such an unhallowed and unhappy +project. But it seems their policy hath utwitted their piety, their +pleasing of Man in conniving at, if not complying with their design that +was carried on, hath weighed more with them, than the pleasing of God, +in their witnessing and testifying against it. (But to say no more) by +the negligence of ministers on the one hand, and the politicks of +statesmen on the other hand, this wicked and naughty business has been +carryed on and accomplished, to the provocking of God, enslaving the +nation, and bringing the same under manifest perjury and breach of +Covenant. But how to evite the judgments pronunced against such, we know +not, but by returning to their first love, taking up their first ground, +and standing to sworn Covenants, solemnly unto God, and adhereing to the +cause of God, and the faithful testimonies of this Church, and seeking +back unto the old path, abandoning and shaking off and forsaking all +these God-provoking and land-ruining courses; we say, We know and are +perswaded, there can be no mean to retrive us in this land, but by +unfeigned repentance, and returning unto Him from whom we have so deeply +revolted. And among the politicks of this Age, it could not but be +reckoned the wisdom of the nation, if ever they get themselves recovered +out of the snare, to animadvert upon all such, as have had any hand in +the contriving or manadging it, as being enemies both to God and their +country; which course, if it had been taken in former times, with such +who were enemies to religion and liberty, it would have deterred such +from being so active in this fatal stroak. + +Upon these and many more weighty considerations, plain and demonstrable +evils in this complex mass of sin and misery, all the true lovers of +Zion who desire to be found faithful to God, to their vows and sworn +principles, and who seek to be found faithful in their generation and +duty of the day: and all such, who desire, love and respect the honour, +independency, liberty and priviledge of their native countrey, +especially in such a juncture, when long threatned judgments are so +imminent, and religion and liberty as it were, in their last breathing, +will easily find it to be their bound duty (as they would not conspire +with adversaries to religion and liberty) to show no favour or respect, +and give no encouragement or assistance that may tend to the upholding +or supporting this Union; but that it is their duty and concernment (as +well as ours) to testify and declare against the same, and to concurr +with their utmost endeavours to stop and hinder the same, and to deny +their accession to, connivance at, or complyance with any thing that may +tend to the continuing such an unsupportable yoke upon themselves or +their posterity. + +And now to draw this, our protestation, to a conclusion, we heartily +invite, and in the bowels of our Lord Jesus Christ intreat all in both +nations, who tender the glory of God, the removing the causes of His +wrath, indignation and imminent judgments upon us, and who desire the +continuance of His tabernacle, gospel ordinances, and gracious presence +among us, and seek and contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to +the saints; and labour to follow the footsteps of these who throu' faith +and patience inherit the promise, the noble cloud of witnesses who have +gone before us; we say, we heartily invite and intreat such to consider +their ways, and to come and join in a harmonious, zealous, and faithful +withstanding all and every thing that may be like a hightning, or +cope-stone of our defections, and particularly to join with us +(according to our reformation, Covenants, Confession of Faith, and +testimonies of our Church, as agreeable to the sacred and unerring rule +of faith and manners, the Holy Scriptures) in this our protestation and +testimony. And for these effects, we desire that this our protestation +may be a standing testimony to present and succeeding ages, against the +sinfulness of this land-ruining, God-provoking, soul destroying and +posterity-enslaving and ensnaring Union, and this _ad futurum rei +memoriam_. And to evite the brand and odium of passing the bounds of our +station, and that this our protestation may be brought to the view of +the world; we have thought fit to publish and leave a copy of the same +at Sanquhar by a part of our number, having the unanimous consent of the +whole so to do. + +_Given on the 2nd day of October, 1707._ + + + + +SECESSION FROM THE REVOLUTION CHURCH.[21] + + +We, Mr. John Mackmillan, present minister of the Gospel at Balmaghie, +and Mr. John Mackneil, Preacher of the Gospel, being most odiously and +invidiously represented to the world as schismaticks, separatists and +teachers of unsound and divisive doctrine, tending to the detriment of +Church and State, and especially by Ministers with whom we were +embodied, while there remained any hope of getting grievances redressed. +Therefore, that both Ministers and Professors may know the +unaccountableness of such aspersions, let it be considered that this +backsliding Church (when we with others might have been big with +expectations for advancement in Reformation) continued in their +defections from time to time, still, as occasion was given, evidencing +their readiness to comply with every new backsliding course, instance +that of the Oath of Alledgance, and Bond of Assurance to the present +Queen; which additional step to the former gave occasion and rise to our +unhappy contentions and divisions. And now at this time, for the glory +of God, the vindication of truth and of ourselves (as conscience and +reason obligeth us), to make evident to the world the groundlesness of +these aspersions and calumnies as renters and dividers, and particularly +in the commissions late odious and malicious lybel, wherein are +contained many gross falsehoods, such as swearing persons not to pay +cess, and travelling throw the country with scandalous persons in arms, +which, as they are odious culumnies in themselves, so they will never be +proven by witnesses: and, as to our judgment anent the cess, we reckon +it duty in the people of God to deny and withhold all support, succour, +aid, or assistance that may contribute to the upholding or strengthening +the man of sin, or any of the adversaries of truth, (as the Word of God +instructs us) or for supporting any in such a way, as tending to the +establishing the kingdom of Satan, and bringing down the kingdom of the +Son of God, in a course tending this way, how deeply these nations are +engadged (contrar to the Word of God and our indispensible oaths and +covenants, whereby these lands were solemnly devoted to God) is too +palpable and plain, especially in the sinful terms of the late God +provoking, religion destroying, and land ruining union: we judge it most +necessary to give to the world a brief and short account of our +principles in what we own or disown (referring for larger, more ample +information, to several protestations and testimonies given by some of +the godly heretofore at different times and places) and hereby that +truth may be vindicated and our consciences exonered. + +We declare to the world our hearty desire to embrace and adhere to the +written Word of God, contained in the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New +Testament, as the only and compleat rule and adequat umpire of faith +and manners, and whatever is founded thereupon, and agreeable thereunto; +such as our Confession of Faith; Larger and Shorter Catechisms; +Directory for Worship; Covenants National and Solemn League; the +acknowledgment of sin and engagement to duties; causes of God's wrath, +and the ordinary and perpetual officers of Christ's appointment, as +pastors, doctors, elders and deacons, and the form of Church government, +commonly called Presbyterian. + +Next, we declare our firm adherence to all the faithful contendings for +truth, whether of old or of late, by ministers and professors, and +against whatever sinful courses, whether more refined or more gross, and +particularly the public resolutions Cromwel's usurpation, the toleration +of sectaries, and heresies in his time, and against the sacraligious +usurpation and tyranny of Charles II., the unfaithfulness of ministers +and professors in complying with him, and accepting his indulgences +first and last. And in a word to everything agreeable to the matter of +this our testimony, as it is declared in page 25 and 26 of the +Informatory Vindication; printed _Anno_ 1687. + +Likeways, we declare our adherence unto the testimony against the +abominable toleration granted by the Duke of York, and given in to the +ministers at Edinburgh, by that faithful minister and now glorified +martyr, Mr. James Renwick, January 17, 1688. And to whatever wrestlings +or contendings have been made, or testimonies given against the +endeavours of any in their subtle and sedulous striving to insinuate and +engadge us in a sinful confederacy with a malignant interest and cause, +contrar to the Word of God, our Solemn League and Covenant, and +testimony of this Church. + +Next, we bear testimony against persons being invested with royal power +and authority in thir covenanted lands, without a declaration of their +hearty complyance with, and approbation of the National and Solemn +League and Covenant and engadgment to prosecute the ends thereof, by +consenting to and ratifying all acts and laws made in defence of these +Covenants, agreeable to the Word of God, and laudable acts and practise +of this kirk and kingdom in our best times. + +Moreover, we bear testimony against all confederacies and associations +with popish prelats and malignants, contrary to the Word of God and our +solemn engadgments. The magistrats adjourning and dissolving of +assemblies, and not allowing them time to consider and exped their +affairs: their appointing them dyets and causes of Fasts, particularly +that in January 14: and the Thanksgiving Aug. 26, _Anno_ 1708, which is +a manifest encroachment upon, and destructive to the priviledges of this +Church: their protecting of curats in the peaceable exercise of their +ministry, some in kirks, others in meeting houses, yea, even in the +principal city of the kingdom, if qualified according to law by swearing +the Oath of Alledgance. Their not bringing unto condign punishment +enemies to the Covenant and cause of God, but advancing such to places +of power and trust: all which we here bear testimony against. + +Next, we bear testimony against lukewarmness and unfaithfulness in +ministers anent the corruptions and defections the Church was guilty of +in the late times, not yet purged and removed by censures, and other +ways, as was duty. And their not leaving faithful and joint testimonies +against all the encroachments made upon the Church by the civil powers, +since the year 1690. And we bear testimony against the settling the +constitution of this Church, according as it was established in the year +1592. And the ministers not testifying against this deed, seems to +import a disowning all the reformation attained to betwixt 1638 and 1649 +inclusive. At least cowardice in not daring to avouch the same, or their +being ashamed to own it, because many famous and faithful acts of +assemblies, especially about the year 1648, would have made them lyable +to censure, even to the length of silencing and deposition; for their +defection and unfaithfulness during the late times, of the lands +apostasie. Particularly, the weakning the hands and discouraging the +hearts of the Lord's suffering people, by their bitter expressions, and +aspersions cast on them for their zeal and tenderness, which would not +allow them to comply with a wicked, arbitrary and bloody council as many +of them did. Their not renewing the Covenant buried for upwards of fifty +years by the greatest part of the land, contrar to the former practise +of this Church, especially after some grosser steps of defection. Their +receiving of perjured curats into ministerial communion, without +covenant tyes and obligations and evident signs of their repentance, +contrary to the former practise of this Church. Their receiving some lax +tested men, and curates, elders, into kirk offices, without some +apparent signs at least of their repentance in a publick appearance, +contrar to the former practise of this Church in such like cases, +evident by the Acts of the Assemblies. Their not protesting formally, +faithfully and explicitly against the magistrate adjourning and +dissolving of Assemblies, and recording the same, contrar to the +practise of this Church in our reforming times. We are not concerned to +notice the protestation of some few persons at particular times, seeing +their precipitancy and rashness in this matter, (as they accounted it) +was afterward apologized for; and that it was not the deed of the +Assembly. Their not asserting in any explicit and formal act the divine +right of Presbytry, and the instrinsick power of the Church, though +often desired by many privat Christians, and some several members, their +not confirming and ratifying the Acts of the Assemblies that were made +in our best times for strengthening and advancing the work of +reformation, contrar to the former practise of this Church. Their +admitting in many places, ignorant and scandalous persons to the Lord's +table, contrar to the Acts of former Assemblies: Their not protesting +against the present sinful confederacy with papists, malignants, and +other enemies of religion and godliness; contrar to the Word of God, and +former practise of this Church: their offensive partiality in their +respective judicatories as to some particular members, where, the more +lax and scandalous are overlooked and past by, and the more faithful and +zealous are severely dealt with and handled, contrar to the rule of +equity and the former practise of this Church: Their refusing and +shifting to receive and redress the people's just and great grievances, +and little regard had to prevent the giving offence to the Lord's +people, and small endeavours to have these things removed that are +stumbling and offensive to them, contrar to the Apostle's rule and +practise, who became all things to all Men that by all means he might +save some: their not declaring faithfully and freely against the sins of +the land former and latter, without respect of persons, contrar to that +express precept, "Set the trumpet to thy mouth, and show My people their +transgressions, and the house of Jacob their sin." + +Lastly, we bear testimony against Ministers sinful and shameful silence, +when called to speak and act by preaching and protesting against this +unhallowed Union, which, as it is already the stain, so we swear it will +prove the ruin and bain of this poor nation; though some of them, we +grant, signified their dislike thereof, before and about the time it was +concluded, yet there was no plain and express protestation, faithfully +and freely given in to the Parliament, shewing the sinfulness and danger +of this cursed Union, being contrar, not only to the honour, interest, +and fundamental laws, and constitutions of the kingdom, and a palpable +surrender of the sovereignty, rights and priviledges of the nation, but +also a manifest breach of our Solemn League and Covenant, which was +made and sworn with uplifted hands to the most high God, for purging and +reforming the three nations from error, heresy, superstition and +prophaneness, and whatever is contrar to sound doctrine, the power of +godliness, and the purity of worship, discipline and government in the +same. And so it involves this nation into a most fearful perjury before +God, being contrar to the first article of the Covenant, wherein we +swear to contribute with our outmost endeavours, in our several places +and callings, to reform England in Doctrine, Worship, Discipline and +Government; But by this Union we are bound up for ever from all +endeavours and attempts of this nature, and have put ourselves out of +all capacity to give any help or assistance that way, as ye may see more +fully in the late protestation against the Union, published at Sanquhar, +October 22, 1707. + +Let none say, That what we have done here flows from ambition to exalt +ourselves above others, for as we have great cause, so we desire grace +from the Lord, to be sensible of what accession we have with others in +the land, to the provoking of His Spirit, in not walking as becomes the +Gospel, according to our Solemn Engagements, neither proceeds it from +irritation or inclination (by choice or pleasure) to discover our +mother's nakedness or wickedeness, or that we love to be of a +contentious spirit, for our witness is in heaven (whatever the world may +say) that it would be the joy of our hearts, and as it were a +resurrection from the dead, to have these grievances redressed and +removed, and our backsliding and breaches quickly and happily healed, +but it is to exoner consciences by protesting against the defections of +the land, especially of Ministers: and seeing we can neither with safety +to our persons, nor freedom in our consciences, compear before the +Judicatories, while these defections are not acknowledged and removed, +so we must, so long decline them, and hereby do decline them, as +unfaithful judges in such matters: in regard they have, in so great a +measure, yielded up the priviledges of the Church into the hands and +will of her enemies, and carried on a course of defection contrar to the +Scriptures, our Covenants, and the acts and constitutions of this our +Church. And hereby we further protest and testify against whatever they +may conclude, or determine, in their ecclesiastick courts by acts, +ratifications, sentences, censures, &c., that have been, or shall be +made or given out by them, and protest that the same may be made void +and null, and not interpreted as binding to us or any who desire firmly +to adhere to the Covenanted work of Reformation. + +But let none look upon what we have here said, to be a vilipending or +rejecting of the free, lawful, and rightly constitute courts of Christ, +for we do acknowledge such to have been among the first most effectual +means appointed of God for preserving the purity and advanceing the +power of reformation in the Church of Christ; the sweet fruits and +blessed effects whereof, this Church hath sometimes enjoyed, and which +we have been endeavouring and seeking after, and are this day longing +for. + +We detest and abhorr that principle of casting off the ministry, +wherewith we are odiously and maliciously reproached by these who labour +to fasten upon us the hateful names of schismaticks, separatists, +despisers of the Gospel: but, herein as they do bewray their enmity to +the cause we own, so till they bring in their own principles and +practices, and ours also, and try them by the law and testimony, the +measuring line of the sanctuary, the Word of God, and the practice of +this Church, when the Lord keeped house with, and rejoiced over her as a +bridegroom over his bride, they can never prove us schismaticks or +separatists from the kirk of Scotland upon the account of our non-union +with the backslidden multitude, ministers and others. + +Finally, that we may not be judged by any, as persons of an infallible +spirit, and our actions above the cognisance of the judicatories of +Christ's appointment: we appeal to the first free, faithful and rightly +constitute Assembly in this Church, to whose decision and sentence in +the things, lybelled against us we willingly refer ourselves, and crave +liberty to extend and enlarge this our Protestation, Declinature, and +Appeal as need requires. + +JO. MACKMILLAN. +JO. MACKNEIL. + + +BALMAGHIE MANSE, _Sept. 24th, 1708_. + + + + +"THE CHIEFEST AMONG TEN THOUSAND." + + + + +AIRD & COGHILL PRINTERS, GLASGOW. + + + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 1: This Exhortation was prepared by "Reverend Ministers of the +Gospel," who met at Edinburgh, February, 1638, and "sent to every one of +the Lords of Council severally," inviting them to subscribe the +Covenant.] + +[Footnote 2: Aberdeen, Crail and St. Andrews were the only burghs in +Scotland that had no Commissioners at the renewing of the National +Covenant in Edinburgh. Henderson was appointed to proceed to St. Andrews +to secure its approval of the movement, and his mission resulted in +complete success. This sermon was preached there about the end of March, +1638.] + +[Footnote 3: The author of this "Discourse and Exhortation" and of the +two Sermons that follow, was ordained minister of Pitsligo, and in 1664 +was inducted to St. Nicholas' Church, Aberdeen. Part of the inscription +on his tombstone is, "A Boanerges and Barnabas: a Magnet and Adamant." +He was a member of the Assembly at Glasgow, 1638. This Exhortation was +at the renewing of the National Covenant at Inverness, 25th April, +1638.] + +[Footnote 4: This sermon was delivered in 1638, immediately after the +Renovation of the National Covenant and Celebration of the Lord's +Supper.] + +[Footnote 5: This sermon was preached at a "General Meeting" in +Greyfriars Church, Edinburgh, on 13th June, 1638, after the Renovation +of the Covenant. In Erskine's edition, Black-Fryar is a misprint for +Gray-Fryar.] + +[Footnote 6: Mr. Nye was an Independent and a distinguished member of +the Westminster Assembly. This Exhortation was given to the House of +Commons and the "Reverend Divines" of the Westminster Assembly before +they took the Solemn League and Covenant, and was published by order of +the House of Commons.] + +[Footnote 7: This Address was given to the House of Commons and the +Westminster Assembly before taking the Covenant and was published by +order of the House of Commons.] + +[Footnote 8: Mr. White.] + +[Footnote 9: Mr. Nye.] + +[Footnote 10: Mr. Henderson.] + +[Footnote 11: Dr. Gouge.] + +[Footnote 12: Mr. Caryl was a member of the Westminster Assembly. This +Sermon was given at Westminster "at that Publick Convention (ordered by +the Honourable House of Commons) for the taking of the Covenant, by all +such of all Degrees as wilfully presented themselves, upon Friday, +October 6, 1643." The House of Commons thanked Caryl for the Sermon and +ordered its publication.] + +[Footnote 13: Mr. Case, a member of the Westminster Assembly, gave this +sermon and the one that follows, at the taking of the Covenant in Milk +Street Church, London; the former on Saturday evening, 30th September, +1643, and the other on 1st October, on "the Sabbath-day in the morning," +immediately before the Covenant was taken. Both sermons, together with +one on the Fast, 27th September, wore dedicated to the Commissioners +from the Church of Scotland to the Westminster Assembly.] + +[Footnote 14: This Sermon was delivered by Rev. Edmond Calamy, a member +of the Westminster Assembly, on January 14, 1645, "before the then Lord +Mayor of the City of London, Sir Thomas Adams; together with the +Sheriffs, Aldermen, and Common Council of the said City, being the day +of their taking the Solemn League and Covenant, at Michael Basenshaw, +London."] + +[Footnote 15: The coronation of Charles II. took place at Scone, 1st +January, 1651. In the "chamber of presence," the nation's +representatives invited the King to accept the crown; to which the King +replied: "I do esteem the affections of my good people more than the +crown of many Kingdoms, and shall be ready, by God's assistance, to +bestow my life in their defence, wishing to live no longer than I may +see religion and this kingdom flourish in all happiness." Thereafter, +they proceeded to the "Kirk of Scoon, in order and rank, and according +to their quality." The "King first settles himself in his chair for +hearing of sermon. All being quietly composed unto attention, Mr. Robert +Douglas, Moderator of the Commission of the General Assembly, after +incalling on God by prayer, preached the following sermon." After the +Sermon, the king took the National Covenant and the Solemn League and +Covenant.] + +[Footnote 16: This second coronation oath is inserted in the 15th act of +parliament, and in the parliament, Feb. 7th, 1649; and is, with the +first coronation oath following, insert and approven in the declaration +of the General Assembly 27th July, 1649.] + +[Footnote 17: At Torwood, Stirlingshire, September 1660, Donald Cargill +pronounced this sentence of Excommunication against Charles II.; the +Dukes of York, Monmouth, Lauderdale, and Rothes; Sir George M'Kenzie, +the King's Advocate; and Dalziell of Binns.] + +[Footnote 18: There were several acts for the suppression of field +preachings. This one was prepared by Archbishop Sharpe and issued in +1670.] + +[Footnote 19: On June 22nd, 1680, this Declaration was read by Richard +Cameron at Sanquhar, amid the breathless silence of the inhabitants who +flocked to the spot. It marked "an epoch," writes Burton, "in the career +of the Covenanters."] + +[Footnote 20: The faithful followers of the Reformers and Martyrs, who +could not identify themselves with the Church and State at the +Revolution, maintained their separate existence and testimony through +their "Societies," and they prepared and published this paper against +the Union with England. Its full title is "The Protestation and +Testimony of the United Societies of the witnessing Remnant of the +anti-Popish, anti-Prelatic, anti-Erastian, anti-Sectarian, true +Presbyterian Church of Christ in Scotland, against the sinful +incorporating Union with England and their British Parliament, concluded +and established, May, 1707."] + +[Footnote 21: The Rev. John Mackmillan, minister of Balmaghie, +endeavoured for years to convince the Established Church that the Church +had submitted at the Revolution to invasions of her independence by the +State, and to persuade her to return to the attainments of the +Reformation. Bitter opposition to his efforts led to his secession from +the Church, after tabling this "Protestation, Declinature and Appeal." +Mr. John Mackneil joined in the Declinature. A tablet in memory of Mr. +Mackmillan has been recently erected in Balmaghie Church by his +great-great-grandson, Dr. John Grieve, Glasgow. Part of the inscription +is, "A Covenanter of the Covenanters: a Father of the Reformed +Presbyterian Church: a Faithful Minister of Jesus Christ."] + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Covenants And The Covenanters, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE COVENANTS AND THE COVENANTERS *** + +***** This file should be named 19100.txt or 19100.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/9/1/0/19100/ + +Produced by Jordan Dohms and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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